Overview
The Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) has awarded 17 telehealth grants to qualified organizations to implement innovative telehealth projects in Maryland across various care settings. Lessons learned from these projects inform better practices and industry implementation efforts; policy development to advance use of telehealth; and planning and design of larger telehealth projects across the State. Grantees report on telehealth outcomes against measures that align with project goals.
Expanding Telehealth Adoption in Ambulatory Practices - Grant Awarded May 2020
A total of $500,000 was awarded to three State-Designated Management Service Organizations (MSOs) (MedTech Enginuity Corp; Syndicus, Inc.; and Zane Networks, LLC) to provide technical guidance to ambulatory practices in the State to support adoption of telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency and beyond.
MSOs support practices in telehealth adoption by helping them complete a telehealth readiness assessment; providing consultation advice in selecting a telehealth solution; redesigning workflows; and educating staff on technical requirements, clinical best practices, and policy developments in response to COVID-19.
School-Based Teletherapy for Special Education Services - Grant Awarded January 2019
A total of $200,000 with a $79,000 match was awarded to a single organization to implement telehealth to expand access to qualified speech language pathologists (SLPs) for students eligible for special education services. The grant assessed the value of teletherapy in helping students meet Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals. The project concluded in April 2020.
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS)
CCPS implemented teletherapy in three schools to address shortages of Maryland-licensed SLPs and provide services in accordance with students’ IEP determinations. In response to school closures due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, CCPS expanded teletherapy to students in other schools throughout the county.
Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders Supported by Mobile Devices - Grant Awarded May 2018
A total of $150,000 with a $196,940 match was awarded to a single organization to increase access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to underserved Maryland residents with opioid dependence through telehealth interventions in an integrated care delivery approach. The project concluded in October 2019.
Mosaic Community Services, Inc. (Mosaic)
Mosaic sought to implement telehealth to connect a Baltimore-area prescriber to Montgomery County residents in need of MAT with buprenorphine. The project aimed to increase access to addiction treatment in an underserved jurisdiction and establish telehealth capabilities and protocols for addiction treatment clients.
Medication Management and Reconciliation - Grant Awarded April 2018
A total of $150,000 with a $179,319 match was awarded to a single organization to demonstrate the impact of using telehealth to optimize medication-related services in care delivery. The project concluded in December 2019.
University of Maryland Quality Care Network (UMQCN)
UMQCN implemented telehealth to support pharmacist interventions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in three Maryland counties (Caroline, Talbot, and Queen Anne’s). Goals included minimizing adverse drug events, enhancing care coordination among the care team, and improving health outcomes through medication therapy management.
Population Health in Rural Communities - Grant Awarded January 2017
A total of $75,000 with a $150,303 match was awarded to a single organization to demonstrate the impact of using telehealth to increase access to health care and improve population health in rural communities of the Eastern Shore. The project concluded in July 2018.
University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UMSRH)
UMSRH implemented telehealth at two of its facilities. University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown used telehealth with patients at Shore Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to increase access to palliative care services and reduce hospital encounters. Additionally, UMSRH used telehealth to increase access to emergency department psychiatric services and inpatient psychiatric consultations.
Improving Patient Outcomes using Mobile Health Technology – Grant Awarded December 2016
A total of $100,000 with a $200,000 match was awarded to a single organization to demonstrate the impact of using mobile health to promote patient engagement and improve patient outcomes. The project concluded in June 2018.
Johns Hopkins Pediatrics at Home (PAH)
PAH utilized a mobile application with pediatric patients with asthma to conduct regular health assessments, track the patient's Asthma Action Plan, provide real time clinical and educational feedback, and facilitate secure communication between the patient and a registered nurse.
Primary Care - Grants Awarded June 2016
A total of $117,154 with a $234,598 match was awarded to two organizations to demonstrate the impact of using telehealth to support care delivery in primary care settings through expanded access to health services tailored to the needs of different communities and patient populations. The projects concluded in December 2017.
Gilchrist Greater Living (Gilchrist)
Gilchrist provided senior patients with in-home telehealth monitoring devices to provide 24/7 case management and early intervention for chronically ill patients to reduce hospital admissions.
MedPeds, LLC (MedPeds)
MedPeds utilized a mobile device application with patients to facilitate 24/7 video-based telemedicine with MedPeds providers, make appointments, and access electronic health records to increase patient access to primary care providers and improve outcomes for diabetic patients.
Practice Transformation - Grants Awarded November 2015
A total of $90,000 with a $216,726 match was awarded to three organizations to demonstrate the impact of using telehealth technology to improve the overall health of the population being served and the patient experience. The projects concluded in May 2017.
Associated Black Charities (ABC)
ABC of Dorchester County utilized mobile tablets to facilitate primary care and behavioral health video consultations with a licensed nurse care coordinator to improve patients’ self-management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and improve health outcomes.
Gerald Family Care (GFC)
GFC used telehealth video consultations and image sharing services to increase access to specialty care for patients with gastroenterologic, neurologic, dermatologic, cardiac, pulmonary related, and behavioral health conditions at three family practice locations.
Union Hospital of Cecil County (Union)
Union utilized mobile tablets and peripheral devices with chronic care patients to monitor the patients’ blood pressure, pulse, weight, and glucose levels to support data sharing with primary care and ED providers.
Remote Patient Monitoring - Grants Awarded June 2015
A total of $80,000 with a $217,583 match was awarded to three organizations to demonstrate the impact of telehealth on care delivery in a primary care practice with school-aged children, residential care, and hospitals. The projects concluded in November 2016.
Crisfield Clinic (Crisfield)
Crisfield provided mobile devices to middle and high school-aged patients to assist in managing chronic conditions including asthma, diabetes, obesity, and behavioral health issues to improve clinical data indicators, reduce lost school days, reduce ED visits, and improve patients’ perception of health.
Lorien Health Systems (Lorien)
Lorien utilized telemonitoring devices in patients’ home to provide 24/7 access to a care coordinator to address hospital prevention quality indicator (PQI) conditions, including uncontrolled diabetes, congestive heart failure, and hypertension among patients discharged from the skilled nursing facility to home through its Lorien at Home program.
Union Hospital of Cecil County (Union)
Union provided chronic care patients with mobile tablets and peripheral devices that captured patients’ blood pressure, pulse, and weight, and provided patient education to facilitate patient monitoring to improve access to care, enable early provision of appropriate treatment, and reduce hospital encounters.
Long-Term Care/Hospital - Grants Awarded October 2014
A total of $87,888 with a $175,871 match was awarded to three organizations to demonstrate the impact of telehealth in improving transitions of care between hospitals and nursing homes. The projects concluded in October 2015.
Atlantic General Hospital Corporation (AGH)
AGH used video consultations between the Emergency Department (ED) and Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (Worcester County) to reduce ED visits and hospital admission of patients residing in a long-term care (LTC) facility.
Dimensions Healthcare System (DHS)
DHS used mobile tablets to conduct video consultations with patients residing at two LTC facilities, Sanctuary of Holy Cross and Patuxent River Health and Rehabilitation Center, to reduce unnecessary hospital transfers.
University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health (UMUCH)
UMUCH used remote telehealth examinations and consultations between the hospital and a fully equipped exam room and lab located at the Bel Air facility of Lorien Health systems, which provided electrocardiogram (EKG) monitoring, sonogram capabilities, and multiple cameras for remote patient examination.
Briefs and Final Reports
The Telehealth Briefs and Final Reports highlight the lessons learned and implementation considerations from grantees. The individual grantee reports provide information on the technology infrastructure, implementation and assessment approach, outcomes, project limitations and challenges, and plans for sustainability of the projects.
Expanding Telehealth Adoption in Ambulatory Practices: A Grant Funded Program - Accomplishments
Telehealth Grants 2018-2019 Compilation
Advancing Population Health and Primary Care Transformation via Telehealth: A Compilation of 2015 & 2016 Telehealth Grant Final Reports
Remote Patient Monitoring Telehealth Grants: Brief and Final Reports
Long Term Care and Hospital Telehealth Project Grants: Brief and Final Reports
Contact information
For more information, contact Nikki Majewski at nicole.majewski@maryland.gov.