Lockport, NY – Niagara Hospice announced today that the organization has received a $90,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, located in New York City, to launch a telehealth program with remote monitoring for hospice patients in Niagara County throughout 2020.

The primary purpose of the program is to enable clinical staff to have key medical data immediately from patients in home care to address and manage symptoms sooner and maximize comfort and quality of life.

Remote patient monitoring features a variety of medical equipment, including blood pressure monitors, weight scales, glucometers, peak flow meters and pulse oximeters to capture key metrics for each patient. Patients and families are trained in using the equipment, which transmits the data to clinical staff for symptom monitoring, communication with the family and rapid response measures when needed.

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation provides statewide grants that elevate the health and well-being of vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of diverse communities, eliminate barriers to care and bridge gaps in health services. The foundation promotes and sponsors programs in many counties that improve access to affordable, quality health care and address unmet needs of communities across New York, including the social determinants of health.

“This investment by the Mother Cabrini Foundation significantly expedites the abilities of our clinical staff to enhance daily and weekly monitoring of patients for specific triggers and symptoms,” said Danielle Burngasser, RN, BSN, Vice President of Hospice Clinical Operations. “With remote patient monitoring, we will be able to have more personal touchpoints with patients, families and caregivers, and then respond faster when a condition merits immediate attention.”

Staff also can videoconference with patients, family members or caregivers to assess symptoms and conditions and provide consultation or an immediate response to address any medical needs or challenges with daily living activities.

Niagara Hospice estimates that approximately 50 patients at any given time during this year in hospice care at home and palliative care will receive the benefits of this medical monitoring system this year. Participating patients and families will be selected based on the diagnosis and severity of symptoms that need to be managed, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and congestive heart failure. The data monitoring and corresponding communications with clinical staff will occur via laptop or iPad for high-acuity and late-stage patients.