Rural SNF Telemedicine - Changing lives - one at a time

As our clinicians see patients daily in rural SNFs across America, it occurs to me how often we change the course of people's lives. One of our dedicated NPs shared the following story with me just this weekend

During daily rounds I was called to see a pleasant older gentleman with multiple co-morbidities, who was readmitted to the facility for a third time after two hospitalizations shortly after discharge.

Patient is a brittle diabetic with end-stage COPD and CHF. I obtained baseline labs at the SNF, as hospital labs were unavailable. Labs returned with clear evidence of acute kidney injury.

I met with resident and his wife over video conference and he shared issues with urinary retention in the hospital, but said he did not feel heard. Nursing staff in the facility confirmed small outputs since admission that morning as well. Foley catheter was placed with return of >2000cc, additionally, nephro-offending medications discontinued and fluids improved.  

It took a few days for creatinine and BUN to return to normal, but he is feeling stronger every day.  

The facility nursing staff had detected a potential life-threatening problem and were commended for their proactive assessment.

The patient has really enjoyed partnering with the "computer doc" as other chronic conditions are now being managed together.   

This patient resides in a rural facility in the heartland of our great country where access to quality and timely medical care can be very difficult to come by. Before contracting with Tapestry, this facility only had an in-person visit by a physician on a biweekly basis and this resident was in a vicious cycle of endless rehospitalizations. He now has access to life changing medical care on-site, every day of the week, and hopefully on to a full recovery!

Great job Julie!