Philips-Commissioned RAND Report Highlights Promise of Home Health and Need for Multi-Stakeholder Action to Break Down Barriers to Adoption

ANDOVER, Mass., Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) and the RAND Corporation today released results of an international analysis on issues and challenges facing home healthcare. The study suggests that healthcare stakeholders believe a greater reliance on home healthcare is necessary to better equip healthcare systems with caring for the rapidly growing aging population living longer with chronic illnesses.

The report, which surveyed influencers in China, France, Germany, Singapore, the U.K. and the U.S., also found that stakeholders believe home healthcare technology has clear potential to relieve pressure on healthcare systems from staff shortages and capacity constraints.  

Although experts agree on the role of home health in principle, initiatives to change the status quo remain limited. According to the RAND report, several challenges, such as a lack of familiarity with technology, health literacy and skills to effectively use home healthcare solutions, along with affordability, serve as barriers to the adoption of home health technologies.

The report found that stakeholders believe a consensus must be reached between U.S. patients, healthcare providers, insurance companies and healthcare payers to successfully shift the structure of healthcare toward more home health. This includes the need for more research on home technology solutions.

"Philips is committed to seeing home healthcare become more accessible, and we have a vision for how technology can help make that happen," said Walter van Kuijen, general manager of Home Monitoring for Philips Healthcare. "The RAND report validated that the vision is shared by many healthcare thought leaders. The report also showed us that more comprehensive proof is needed."  

To further discuss the results of the study and promote an increased utilization of home health solutions, Philips will host a panel discussion with leading home healthcare experts on December 7th at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The dialogue will center on considering home healthcare technology as a potential solution to the challenges that the U.S. healthcare system faces.

Panelists include:

• Richard Brennan, Deputy Director of Government Affairs, National Association of Home Care and Hospice
• Elinor Ginzler, Vice President, Health, AARP
• Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
• Soeren Mattke, Senior Scientist, RAND, and Managing Director, RAND Health Advisory
• Walter van Kuijen, General Manager, Home Monitoring, Philips Healthcare

"Plain and simple, people prefer to be in their homes," said panelist Elinor Ginzler, AARP vice president of health. An AARP survey released last month found that more than eight in ten Baby Boomers and effectively nine in ten people aged 65 and older report they want to live in their current homes for as long as possible. "Technology like home monitoring has the potential to help older Americans stay safer and get more of the care they need at home."

Home health leaders released a letter sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick, to encourage them to fund a remote monitoring demonstration project for home health.

Organizations who signed the letter include: Home Care Technology Association of America; National Association for Home Care & Hospice; Philips Healthcare; Visiting Nurses Association of America.

This research was sponsored by Royal Philips Electronics and carried out by The RAND Corporation. The report, "Health and Well-Being in the Home: A Global Analysis of Needs, Expectations, and Priorities for Home Health Care Technology," is available at www.rand.org.  

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs more than 118,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of US 32.3 billion in 2009, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Royal Philips Electronics