Joliet Area Community Hospice Uses Telemedicine to provide continued, compassionate care

Telemedicine—the use of technology for health care-- has allowed for uninterrupted care of hospice and palliative patients of Joliet Area Community Hospice throughout the outbreak of COVID-19.

Using a HIPAA-compliant platform, case managers monitor patients for a contactless video visit when appropriate. While avoiding any risk of exposure, staff check-in regularly and provide support—for the patient and his family.   If a smart phone is not accessible to the patient, JACH can provide one to facilitate connection.

Tapcloud allows for the patient or caregiver to do a “check in” of how they are feeling compared to the day before:  better, same or worse.   Using the easy-to-navigate app, patients can choose from a list of adjectives to click on to help describe how they are feeling as well as rate their pain on a numeric scale.  That information immediately gives the team an alert to do follow up.   Tapcloud is HIPAA protected and allows pictures and video calls to be done securely.

Not only does this help with the physical care but it also provides human interaction and contact that is so important at this time. Without having visitors or human touch, the feeling of isolation can cause depression and have an impact on the overall health of a person.

Each hospice and palliative care patient is assigned a team of health care professionals. Working together, they provide patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness. Each contact--whether face-to-face or via telehealth—is a much-needed positive human connection. This is especially important for when social distancing has resulted in social isolation.

Joliet Area Community Hospice provides comfort and dignity to those facing a serious illness. For information about Palliative or Hospice care, call 815.740.4104.