June 10, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Contact:
Sarah Mashburn, (202) 508-9492
AAHSA Receives Funding to Examine Technology’s Value in Blood Pressure Management
WASHINGTON – The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) has been awarded a contract from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to investigate the impact of telehealth monitoring for blood pressure management among older adults.
The study’s centerpiece is the establishment of telehealth kiosks at rural nutrition centers that serve low income seniors. Seniors with hypertension will be encouraged to use the kiosk to monitor their blood pressure when they visit the center for meals. The data will be sent to a central server where it will be monitored by nurse-researchers who will work in collaboration with participants’ primary care physicians.
This project represents a novel application of telehealth technology, and is a multifaceted collaboration among AAHSA’s Institute for the Future of Aging Services (IFAS), Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST), AHRQ, Wright State University College of Nursing, the Nursing Institute of West Central Ohio, Title III and private nutrition centers in the state of Ohio and HealthAnywhere, an innovative technology company.
“There’s no question that technology has the potential to improve older adults’ health. The real question is, can that translated into practice in community-based settings where these technologies are most likely to benefit high risk older adults?” said Helaine Resnick, Ph.D., IFAS’ director of research and the study’s principal investigator. “This study gives us the unique opportunity to offer providers the evidence-base they need to help seniors live longer and healthier lives.”
"Studying how information technology can affect health care for seniors is an important step in improving the aging services environment," said Robert Mayes, senior advisor for health IT with AHRQ. “We look forward to seeing the results of this project.”