Comparison of Telemedical and Conventional Treatment of Heart Failure Patients Considering Different Approaches to In-Hospital Stay

Abstract

The double aging effect with its ensuing increase of chronic illnesses causes new challenges for public health care systems. New strategies and methods of care are essential to overcome the future financial burdens. The telemedical treatment of heart failure patients with the potential of improved medical and financial outcome has to be evaluated and analyzed. Therefore detailed discrete event models have been developed. For the first time clinical data for lengths of stay could be implemented as probability distribution functions in order to compare both systems. Results show that the median length of stay is not viable to compare the methods of treatment and that telemedical applications can be sustainable health care solutions with potential cost reductions.