Nemours Wins Florida Governor’s Innovation Award

Nemours Enterprise
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 @ 12:00 AM EDT

Nemours, one of the nation’s largest children’s health systems, was named recipient of the 2006 Governor of Florida’s Innovation Award. Nemours was recognized by Governor Jeb Bush on Monday September 18, 2006 for its contributions to Florida’s economic growth by its Remote Monitoring health care project for children with chronic conditions such as asthma. “The statewide annual celebration of Industry Appreciation Week celebrates the contributions of Florida businesses, like Nemours, to our state and local communities. Nemours was chosen to receive this award based on its demonstrated ingenuity, civic leadership, and significant contribution to diversifying and strengthening Florida’s economy,” stated Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, in a letter to David J. Bailey, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Nemours.

Nemours has been investing considerable resources to develop a model of an economically sustainable adjunct to the current system of care, built on using e-health and remote monitoring technologies for disease management of chronic or complex pediatric patients. “Our goal is to deliver a clinical outcome equal to or greater than the traditional model of care, equally available to all citizens, at lower cost,” said Dr. Bailey.

Nemours’ Remote Monitoring consists of technology installed in schools for children who suffer from chronic medical conditions to e-visit with their clinicians through videoconference. The technology is designed to monitor patient biologic information through use of pulse oximetry, spirometry, stethoscope for the heart and lungs, and a peak flow meter. The clinically monitored data is transmitted from the patient-screen located at the school or daycare over the Internet to the Nemours Children’s Clinic. Vitals are observed by a clinician to determine the patient’s condition at that particular given point in time.

Monitoring remotely from a patient’s home, school, or daycare enables nurses and physicians to extend care beyond office visits and allows patients to empower themselves with disease management. Additionally, scheduling office visits results in missed school days and a parent taking paid time off from work. With remote monitoring, health care savings for the child’s family are achieved.

Remote monitoring is currently grant funded through a Department of Commerce Federal Technologies Opportunities Program (TOP) grant. In partnership with JEA,the eighth largest municipal electric, water and sewer utility in the US and the largest in Florida, the funded programdelivers telemedicine to underserved areas of Jacksonville, as well as schools and day care facilities around the city.

modified: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 @ 03:47 PM EST
created: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 @ 03:47 PM EST

About Nemours

Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.

Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received preliminary approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital as part of an integrated pediatric health campus in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.

Nemours employs over 4,400 individuals, including 430 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2007. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.