The Gurwin Healthcare System Receives Technology Awards

McKnight’s “Excellence in Technology Awards” are awarded annually to organizations that have best utilized their technological capabilities to improve the quality of care provided to their residents and/or members of the community. This year, Gurwin was recognized in the “Transitions” and “High-Tech, High-Touch” categories, specifically in relation to their Telehealth Program for technology rolled out to meet the challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis.

The “Transitions” award was presented for the System’s Home Care initiative that helps patients continue on their paths to recovery even after discharged from the hospital or rehabilitation facility. Using Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) technology, Gurwin staff is able to monitor and provide clinical oversight for high-risk patients with COVID-19 or other chronic and/or acute health conditions in their own homes. The platform includes active RPM of the patient’s daily blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, pulse oximetry, glucose and weight readings. RPM includes a virtual platform which allows the clinician to communicate with the patient’s physician, should there be any changes in condition. The user-friendly virtual platform feature also allows patient/physician and patient/nurse virtual visits. Grants made available to a physician group from a university hospital enabled Gurwin to provide each patient with the technology needed to facilitate the RPM.

In the “High-Tech High-Touch” category, Gurwin was recognized for innovations developed during the COVID-19 pandemic on Long Island. RPM technology was again used in the Healthcare System’s assisted living community to minimize exposure to the virus for vulnerable residents. Advanced cardiac care monitoring using state-of-the-art stethoscopes equipped to record, analyze and transmit heart and lung sounds as well as ECG recordings, provided community physicians with critical patient health information, avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The “high touch” aspect came into play with the creation of a new role for one of Gurwin’s Certified Home Health Aide-Telehealth Support Specialist (TSS). Besides mastering the technology needed to perform the readings, the TSS received additional training in managing the dementia population in order to reassure and support the residents as she took their telehealth readings. The daily readings enabled home care nurses to remotely monitor vital signs of high- risk residents to identify early signs/symptoms of COVID- 19 and/or a deterioration of other chronic health conditions.

For more information about the RPM technology, or to learn more about Gurwin Home Care, call (631) 715-2562.