Fall 2008

Cutting-edge home health technology in the comfort of your home

“Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital has signed a partnership agreement with HomMed, LLC granting their Home Care Agency exclusive rights to offer home telemonitoring technology to patients in Southwest Wisconsin and Northeast Iowa,” announces Twila Dettman, RN, Home Health Clinical Coordinator at Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital. “The state-of-the art telemonitoring system can educate, encourage and motivate individuals to lead a healthier lifestyle. It can give both patient and family members peace of mind knowing a healthcare professional is monitoring their status seven days per week. Telemonitoring can lead to early detection of problems which can sometimes result in simple, early interventions and possibly eliminate the need for an emergency room visit or hospitalization.”

Lynn Groom, RN, Telemonitoring Coordinator, explains how the system works, “Home telemonitoring offers a mini daily check-up in the comfort of the patient’s home through a small station installed in the patient’s home. The device uses verbal prompts to walk the patient through collecting their vital signs such as weight, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation and temperature every day at a set time taking only about three minutes to complete . The system may ask a series of questions related to the patient’s condition. The information is then automatically sent through the phone line to be reviewed by a registered nurse.”

She further explains, “ By utilizing daily home monitoring we can begin catching clinical changes in condition early and involve the care team in preventative care. The monitoring system is not an emergency response device and does not substitute or replace Lifeline, 911 or any other emergency or personal response system.”

Twila Dettman adds, “In addition to the new telemonitoring system, our caring, professional team provides in-home health services including Registered Nursing, Home Health Aide, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Medical Social Worker. Our agency serves communities in all of Crawford County; parts of Grant, Vernon, and Richland Counties in Wisconsin; and also part of Allamakee and Clayton Counties in Iowa. Anyone can make a referral to our agency, your physician or clinic, yourself, your family, or anyone who feels this special care is needed. Your doctor coordinates care with Home Care staff. Give us a call at Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital, 608-357-2000 or 1-800-542-6331, to learn if you or a family member qualify and could benefit from Home Telemonitoring or to learn of our other services available to our community.”