Telehealth use in home health care in the US: A literature review.

Abstract

ObjectiveThe rapid shift toward home- and community-based care in the US has intensified the demand for home health care, particularly as the population continues to age. Amid challenges such as workforce shortages and increasing patient needs, telehealth has emerged as a potential strategy to enhance care delivery and patient outcomes in home health settings. This literature review examines empirical studies published between January 2020 and April 2024 to investigate the status of telehealth use within the US in home health care settings.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL for peer-reviewed studies published in English between January 2020 and April 2024. Quality of reviewed studies was assessed independently by reviewers using quality assessment checklists.ResultsSix quasi-experimental studies were included, examining various telehealth modalities in home health care. Tele-video, tele-calls, and remote monitoring were commonly used for patient education, symptom management, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Telehealth interventions were generally associated with high patient satisfaction, reduced acute care utilization, and improved communication between providers and caregivers. Study quality varied, with limitations in sample size, methodology, and outcome measurement affecting generalizability. Further research is needed to optimize telehealth integration in home health care.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the effectiveness of telehealth in delivering home health care and its potential to address current challenges. These findings also call for policy changes for expanded reimbursement models as well as large-scale pragmatic studies to enhance telehealth integration in home health care to support aging in place.