Veteran Ronald Bordenaro, 89, has 5 kids, 13 grandkids, and 10 great-grandkids. Thanks to videoconferencing, he was able to see them all for Thanksgiving. Similarly, thanks to video health visits, Bordenaro and his VA care team have been able to closely monitor his blood pressure from the comfort of his home. He takes his own blood pressure and shares his measurements with his VA care team during secure VA Video Connect visits.
Bordenaro lives about 40 miles from the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois, where Kitty Thomas serves as a nurse manager for the hospital's patient-aligned care team (PACT) primary care clinic. Her clinic recently began participating in the innovative video blood pressure pilot program that makes virtual visits possible for Bordenaro.
Thomas said she decided one day to try a video appointment on her lunch break. "It was the best appointment I've ever had. It made me really excited to get involved with virtual care for Veterans." She later called on VA staff nurse Loretta Gorecki to champion the video blood pressure program among the other registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in their clinic.
Bordenaro said he's fortunate to be both mobile and capable of taking his blood pressure at 89. "Video connectivity is solving a lot of problems," he said.
