Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - Congressman Brian Higgins was on-hand at People Inc. WNY headquarters on Monday to announce $2 million in funding he was able to secure in the federal budget to expand and improve telehealth services. This will not only benefit senior citizens of Western New York, but also help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and people with Alzheimer's.
The funding will support People Inc.'s successful model addressing health equity among vulnerable populations.
"We know that access to routine and preventive services is a determining factor in overall health and well-being. With this $2 million in funding, People Inc. will partner with Virtual Medical Care to specifically target improved access for healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and senior citizens, including those with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia," said Rep. Higgins during Monday's announcement. "Healthcare access can be challenging for individuals, whom our deaf and have difficulty hearing due to language barriers between patients and providers."
Utilization of telehealth grew exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying approximately 37% of all Americans used telehealth in 2021 alone.
When utilized correctly, telehealth can be an essential tool for individuals of all needs, including those with chronic conditions and disabilities.
"We will be targeting vulnerable seniors and people with Alzheimer's, people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are living in our community," said Anne McCaffrey, incoming President and CEO of People Inc. "We will be able to offer them and their caregivers online medical attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, all in the comfort of their own home. This will often mean that a person who, in the past, would call 9-1-1 will, instead, talk to a medical professional from their living room. There's a significant benefit to caregivers as well, who will now have an additional resource when accessing healthcare for their loved ones."
In their partnership with Virtual Medical Care, People Inc.'s telehealth service is designed to support a patient's ability to live independently, while promoting better individual outcomes and overall wellness.
"With our partners at Virtual Medical Care, we already have a proven model for telehealth that has improved medical outcomes for many. We've analyzed the Virtual Medical Care preliminary performance, and we've seen an astounding 30% reduction in emergency department visits. With this funding, we will now be able to expand the impact that we've already seen, and extend this model of care to vulnerable people who will greatly benefit from it," McCaffrey said. "We expect to see improved health outcomes among people with disabilities."
Telehealth allows for more consistent health monitoring and improved stability of care for people with chronic conditions. For those who are immune-compromised, virtual appointments have been able to help reduce unnecessary exposure. It also reduces delays in care, eliminates office wait times, and lowers stress by facilitating appointments within the comfort of one's home.
It also eases family and caregiver participation in health discussion for seniors with dementia, or individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
For those who are deaf or may be hard of hearing and needing the assistance of American Sign Language (ASL), People Inc. and Deaf Access Services have partnered to incorporate interpretation skills into virtual visits, eliminating communication barriers for those with hearing challenges.
This federal investment also delivers cost savings to the healthcare system and patients alike, reducing visits to the emergency room, monitoring health to prevent exacerbating conditions, and eliminating additional expenses associated with in-person visits.
"As you can see, we are knocking down barriers, and improving access to care so people can get the appropriate level of care at the right time and in the right place," McCaffrey said. "We expect this funding to be transformational by improving health outcomes for some of most vulnerable in Western New York."
