April 2, 2008 Telehealth units revolutionize patient home care Play video

(NECN) - It is called a telehealth unit, and for people who have chronic illnesses, it allows them to have daily checkups right at home.

At any point during the day, patients can hook themselves up to a blood pressure machine or a pulse oximeter. The results are sent to their nurse via the internet through the telehealth unit.

The unique thing about telehealth is that nurses can program specific questions tailored to the needs of their patients.

If patient response signals a potential emergency, the system sends doctors or nurses an alert through the internet, pager and phone.

The VNA Care Network and Hospice currently has 200 patients using the telehealth system and it has saved several lives.