Humana Partners with VRI to Pilot Enhanced Medical Alert Systems for Its Medicare members [Health & Beauty Close – Up]

Humana Inc., a health and well-being company, and Valued Relationships, Inc. (VRI), a provider of home health monitoring services, are partnering on a national pilot aimed at preventing the serious long-term effects of medical emergencies and falls, and reducing unnecessary hospital admissions, readmissions and emergency room visits.

According to the company, beginning in late July, Humana began providing a free personal emergency response system, called a "PERS," to Medicare Advantage members identified by the company's national chronic care management division, Humana Cares / SeniorBridge. Plans are for 500 Humana Medicare members nationwide to participate in the six-month pilot.

"We know that a third of people over age 65 fall at least once a year, and nearly half cannot get up without help," said Humana Cares / SeniorBridge Vice President of Telephonic Clinical Operations Gail Miller. "Our goal is to continue to find ways to help our Medicare members stay longer and safer in their homes. Humana believes a medical alert system can help our members who are at risk of falls, and give their caregivers and family members peace of mind at the same time."

The VRI medical alert system is easy to use. When help is needed, the member simply pushes a button on the device and a Care Center representative answers the call and gets the help needed, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. VRI also uses the device to track motion and is alerted if the device senses a lack of activity that may signal a health emergency.

"We are excited to work with Humana to show that when proven, low- cost Medical Alerts are combined with innovative monitoring processes and fall technologies, health care organizations can improve care and reduce costs associated with hospitalizations," said Andy Schoonover, President of VRI.

Using technology, the PERS device:

-Automatically detects when someone wearing the device falls and calls them to see if they're okay.

-Uses GPS-tracking to help find the member if he/she can't call out or doesn't answer calls.

-Can work like a two-way, hands-free radio anyplace where AT&T's cellular network is active.

-VRI is providing the monitoring of the systems through trained responders at its call center located in Franklin, Ohio.

Humana Cares / SeniorBridge, Humana's national chronic care management division, supports more than 300,000 individuals who have chronic conditions, struggle with daily activities and are frequently hospitalized, as well as their family members and caregivers.

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a health care company that offers a range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being.

VRI is a provider of telehealth monitoring, monitored medication dispensing and adherence solutions, and medical alert systems serving 100,000 actively monitored clients across the country.

More Information:

http://www.humana.com

http://www.monitoringcare.com

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