Authentidate Holding Corp. a provider of secure health information exchange, workflow management services and telehealth solutions, today announced that it has been selected by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a supplier for its Telehealth Program, already one of the largest in the world.
 
Authentidate was one of six companies selected by the VA to receive a home telehealth contract for this program in connection with its recent request for proposal for home telehealth solutions. As an approved VA supplier, VA facilities throughout the country will be able to utilize Authentidate's Electronic House Call (EHC) solution (developed by its ExpressMD joint venture), and its Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to remotely monitor patients and enhance patient care. The VA contract spans a five-year period, which consists of a one-year base period and four optional one-year renewal periods.  

Authentidate's remote patient monitoring solutions bring the kind of personalized care to patients in their homes that was previously only available in acute and post-acute care settings. Clinicians use the EHC or the IVR solution to remotely monitor their patients' vital signs and gather additional pertinent information about their patients' health to supplement in-person visits. Clinicians can review their patients' remote monitoring session results securely using Authentidate's web-based application and remotely  manage or adjust their patients care plans, medication reminders and related information. Clinicians can also use the EHC to provide disease-specific education to their patients in real-time.

Healthcare providers are beginning to use remote patient monitoring to deliver better continuity of care, especially for patients with chronic illnesses. Telehealth solutions also benefit patients who are in need of regular monitoring but are located far from their physician or specialist. In addition, these patients generally show higher compliance with care plans, resulting in a reduction in hospital readmissions and overall improved outcomes.

Gavin Stewart, senior director of business development at Authentidate, said, "We are extremely happy to have been selected by the VA for this program. We look forward to working with the VA team to provide veterans with innovative monitoring solutions that help them better manage their health on a daily basis."

Ben Benjamin, president of Authentidate, added, "This news is genuinely significant for Authentidate and our shareholders. The VA is the largest integrated health care system in the U.S. and has incorporated telehealth services in its important mission of providing medical care to veterans. As a provider of care coordination solutions, we are proud to be working with a well-known leader in the telehealth industry. We are ready, and eager, to provide excellent products, services and support to the VA."