"Tele" Me About It: Tele- and Virtual-Health Innovations in Long-Term Care

The emergence of virtual and telehealth technologies in the past decade is already at the forefront of senior care solutions. These innovations can help combat staffing shortages, rising healthcare costs, and the ability to provide quality medical care for the growing number of seniors that are homebound or have inadequate access to medical care. Enter a pandemic and these technologies become even more relevant. In this session, we will address these advances and the regulations, ethics, reimbursements, and profitability questions that accompany them.

Objectives:

Discuss various technologies and programs available for use by long term care communities

Identify the current use of virtual and telehealth technologies by LTC and medical professionals

Identify ways in which the use of telehealth has increased and become important in light of COVID-19

Discuss how LTC organizations can coordinate with doctors and other essential services to enhance the quality of life and care for residents

Discuss challenges to using currently available technologies

Evaluate potential ways to alleviate some of these challenges

Briefly predict the future of telehealth technology in the role of long-term care