ABSTRACT

Objective:

The dramatic rise in healthcare expenditures calls for innovative and scalable strategies to achieve measurable, near-term im- provements in health. Our objective was to determine whether a remotely delivered behavioral health intervention could improve medical health, reduce hospital admissions, and lower cost of care for individuals with a recent cardiovascular event.

Study Design:

This retrospective observational cohort study included members of a commercial health plan referred to participate in AbilTo’s Car- diac Health Program. AbilTo is a national provider of tele-health, behavioral change programs for high risk medical populations.

Methods:

The program is an 8-week behavioral health intervention deliv- ered by a licensed clinical social worker and a behavioral coach via phone or secure video.

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Read the full study at: http://www.ajmc.com/publications/issue/2015/2015-vol21-n2/Leveraging-Remote-Behavioral-Health-Interventions-to-Improve-Medical-Outcomes-and-Reduce-Costs