RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) has named TeleHealth Services as a 2016 finalist for the annual Technology Awards program.
TeleHealth Services, the nation’s leading provider of interactive patient engagement and education solutions, was named a finalist in two categories recognizing innovation and leadership – the Industry Driven and Communications Technology categories. TeleHealth provides interactive patient engagement and education solutions to more hospitals than all of its competitors across the nation.
TeleHealth Services develops, sells and supports industry-leading technology for hospitals using patient televisions as a platform for clinical engagement. Educating and involving patients in their own care leads to healing and higher patient satisfaction during the hospital experience.
Interactive patient education through televisions in the patient’s hospital room helps patients understand and learn about their care during a hospital stay and when they continue to recover at home. In fact, research has shown that the use of videos for education increases retention up to 50 percent compared to conventional paper handouts that often are not read or easily understood.
Through TeleHealth’s SmarTigr patient engagement system, a hospital patient can be prescribed condition-specific education, browse through hospital services and conveniently order their next meal using their in-room television. Entertaining movies and Internet access can be enjoyed, or relaxation content played to ease hospital-induced anxiety or reduce pain levels.
“While at home, people watch TV an average of six hours a day, and that increases to almost 11 hours each day when they are in the hospital,” said Matt Barker, TeleHealth Services’ vice president of marketing. “Hospitals across the nation are embracing the technology solutions that improve healthcare and encourage patients to participate in the healing process. We are excited to be recognized for this award by the N.C. Technology Association.”
Birth of the Patient Engagement and Education Industry
In 2009, The Joint Commission adopted hospital accreditation standards for patient-centered communication and education. The independent organization accredits more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. By that time, TeleHealth Services had provided educational video-on-demand patient education to hospitals for more than a decade through its Tigr system.
Richard Bootes, vice president of product development at TeleHealth Services, led the creation of the Tigr system and is considered a pioneer in the industry. TeleHealth was the first to bring digital technology for patient education into hospitals. “We transformed an industry, jumping from VHS tapes with scheduled viewing times to digital, on-demand services,” Bootes said.
Today, the systems integrate smart TVs, Internet-based software platforms and interactive applications with a library of informative videos designed to educate patients about their care, including their medications. Caregivers select condition-specific videos (available in multiple languages), which the patient controls from the bedside. The systems generate activity reports for staff to review, document and measure learning and patient comprehension. Earlier this year, TeleHealth launched Tigr@Home to extend patient education throughout the continuum of care beyond the hospital walls.
Finalists for the NCTA Tech Awards were chosen in a review process led by one of the nation’s largest accounting firms, Cherry Bekaert, and an independent selection committee. Awards will be presented in November.
About NCTA
The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) is a not-for-profit, membership-driven trade association and the primary voice of the technology industry in North Carolina. For more information, visit www.nctechnology.org
About TeleHealth Services
With more than 2,500 healthcare clients across the country, TeleHealth Services is the nation's leading provider of integrated technology and communications solutions for the healthcare market. Combining 50+ years of healthcare expertise and partnerships with industry leading manufacturers, TeleHealth Services is uniquely positioned to offer a full suite of hospital technology solutions that includes:
- Interactive patient education platforms
- Comprehensive hospital television systems
- Bedside patient entertainment solutions
- Comprehensive design, implementation, and service packages
- Flexible financing solutions
- Complete healthcare audio visual solutions
Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., TeleHealth Services is a division of Telerent Leasing Corporation. Telerent, founded in 1957, operates as a subsidiary of ITOCHU International, Inc. For more information on TeleHealth, call 800-733-8610, or visit www.telehealth.com.
