Telemedicine use and the reduction of psychiatric admissions from a long-term care facility

J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2001 Summer;14(2):76-9. doi: 10.1177/089198870101400206.

Abstract

Copper Ridge is a long-term care facility that provides care for persons with dementia and their families from early diagnosis to end of life. A low-cost videoconferencing system was employed in the development of a comprehensive, integrated continuum of care for Copper Ridge residents by bridging long-term care with inpatient psychiatric care at Johns Hopkins Hospital. In this article, we discuss the Copper Ridge/Johns Hopkins telemedicine project and how its operation appears to have brought about a reduction in psychiatric admissions. Telemedicine projects using inexpensive technology over standard telephone lines can be successfully used in long-term care settings.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Homes for the Aged
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Long-Term Care / economics
  • Long-Term Care / standards
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Telemedicine* / economics
  • Workforce