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Tele-Health Solutions Witness Increasing Focus to Provide Improved Health Care Facilities to the Growing Ageing Population

Posted on: Monday, 5 March 2007, 12:01 CST

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c51500) announces the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report Opportunity Analysis of the U.S. Tele-Health Solutions Market to their offering.

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Opportunity Analysis of the U.S. Tele-Health Solutions Markets provides an overview of the markets and includes key market drivers, restraints, as well as trends that are impacting healthcare providers' spending on tele-health systems. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the disease management and remote patient monitoring segments.

Content Outline:

- Introduction

- Overview of the U.S. Tele-Health Solutions Market

- Market Size of the U.S. Tele-Health Solutions Market

- Tele-Health in the Disease Management Environment

- Tele-Health in the Remote Patient Monitoring Environment

- Competitive Factors and Analysis of the U.S. Tele-Health Solutions Market

- Industry Challenges

- Opportunities for Tele-Health

- Database of Key Industry Participants

Tele-health Solutions Witness Increasing Focus to Provide Improved Health care Facilities to the Growing Ageing Population

The ageing population in the United States is a long-term driver of growth for tele-health solutions and services. The number of baby boomers entering a classifiable disease risk category is increasing by 6 percent annually. Moreover, the number of Americans suffering from multiple chronic conditions is expected to grow rapidly over the next two decades. Currently, there are no planned investments or a significant increase in health care facilities to cater to the requirements of the baby boomer population. In this context, remote patient monitoring (RPM) and disease management (DM) are considered the key solutions in providing health care in the future. Accordingly, participants in the U.S. tele-health solutions markets are likely to witness exciting growth opportunities.

"Government initiatives such as the Chronic Care Improvement Program (CCIP) are driving growth in the tele-health solutions markets, as the industry has begun to anticipate that Medicare will include RPM and DM in its reimbursement framework," notes the analyst of this research service. "This has resulted in the implementation of trial projects by various companies and providers over the last few years." The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has requested for an increase in budget funds dedicated to chronic disease prevention and health promotion. This figure has risen from $789,972,000 in 2003 to $853,378,000 in 2004 and subsequently to $915,425,000 in 2005. Increased funding and the implementation of successful demonstration projects are expected to improve industry acceptance of RPM and DM solutions, thus driving growth in the tele-health solutions markets.

DM Programs Based on Customer Cost Reduction Crucial for Market Success

Traditionally, tele-health was focused on serving a specific segment of the population to manage diseases such as congestive heart failure (CHF), diabetes and others. However, it has now become more population-management oriented, focusing on chronic diseases rather than specific diseases. As opposed to targeting people who are currently suffering from chronic diseases, vendors are increasingly shifting the emphasis on individuals who are susceptible to such diseases (for instance, obese individuals). In the RPM environment, the increase in co-morbidities is driving the demand for tele-health devices that feature multiple parameters and can simultaneously monitor several diseases.

The lack of direct reimbursement and the cost of tele-health solutions are the main factors challenging market growth, as the incentive for physicians to invest in RPM devices is insignificant. In addition, customers often demonstrate a high degree of reluctance to invest in DM unless the return on investment (ROI) can be realized early. "There is need to educate both, patients and doctors about the potential ROI for tele-health solutions," explains the analyst. "Several vendors are working with employees and insurers to generate incentives for engagement in tele-health programs, offering co-payments to those who participate." Developing products and services that demonstrate potential savings to customers, backed by involvement in pilot projects where the ROI is recognized and documented can help overcome the reluctance to invest. Apart from this, vendors that offer pricing on a rental model allow providers to absorb all or part of the costs into their operational budget.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c51500

Source: Business Wire

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