Grant: Knowledge Synthesis Grant

The burden of chronic disease on the Canadian healthcare system is growing as our population ages. At the same time, health human resources, which are already scarce, especially in rural and remote areas, are becoming even more so. This combination of greater need and reduced capacity makes it essential to develop more effective and more efficient ways to manage patients with chronic diseases. Many health systems are looking to telehealth to fill these gaps and home-based telehealth services offer tremendous promise. Examples include using technology for distance consultations, supporting behavioural change, and monitoring patients in their homes. Although telehealth services have been employed in various capacities for several years, home-based telehealth services are relatively new to the healthcare system and thus it is not surprising that such services remain under-utilized. Knowledge users looking for solutions are faced with a body of literature that is dispersed, inconsistent and fraught with unreliable methodologies. They need synthesized, applicable, digestible evidence in order to evaluate possible options and to determine how best to make investments in this area. The proposed synthesis will provide knowledge users with the succinct, reliable data on the cost-effectiveness, clinical outcomes, and patient/provider experiences of home based telehealth services that is needed to inform policy and practice within their administrations. It will provide clear guidance on how home-based telehealth can be effectively used to address issues of chronic disease management and human resources planning that will, in turn, promote safe, accessible and affordable patient care and improved patient outcomes.