Caregiver burnout: What it looks like and how to help prevent it
New analysis shows reductions in total cost of care, inpatient spending, and emergency department utilization, reinforcing years of evidence that VRI's human-centered Personal Emergency Response program improves outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Southfield, MI — September 15, 2026 — VRI (Valued Relationships, Inc.), a leading provider of Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) and remote health engagement services, and part of a comprehensive device-enabled care ecosystem supporting people living with chronic care needs alongside its affiliate, Higi, today announced new study results demonstrating that its PERS program continues to deliver meaningful clinical and financial improvements for Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) populations.
In the latest analysis of more than 1,600 participants enrolled in a national Medicare Advantage plan, with a significant concentration of Dual Special Needs beneficiaries, members participating in VRI’s PERS program achieved a $172 per member per month total healthcare cost savings advantage compared with a matched control population. Participants also experienced substantially lower utilization across several of healthcare's most expensive sites of care, including a 45.1% reduction in inpatient costs, a 9.2% reduction in emergency department costs, and an 18.1% reduction in outpatient costs relative to the control group's year-over-year trend.
Rather than functioning solely as an emergency response device, VRI’s PERS program combines wearable technology with its 24/7/365 Care Center, where specially trained engagement specialists build trusted relationships with members through conversations that have no time limits. Representatives work with vulnerable members experiencing social isolation, fall risk, and at an increased likelihood of living with significant chronic care needs to help address loneliness, barriers to care, benefit navigation, and emerging health concerns while ensuring emergency situations receive rapid triage.
"For too long, PERS has been viewed simply as an emergency response device," said Jeff Bennett, President, Monitoring. "We've demonstrated that when you combine the right technology with meaningful human connection built on trust, PERS becomes a powerful population health tool, especially for socially isolated, chronically ill or digitally left behind populations. Our focus isn't just on responding to emergencies — it's on improving the clinical and financial outcomes that matter most to our customers while helping vulnerable members remain safe, connected and independent."
The findings add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating that VRI’s approach produces consistent results across multiple populations and program designs.
Previous analyses found that enhanced PERS engagement increased HEDIS gap closure by 20% compared with matched controls while reducing total cost of care by $81PMPM and generating an estimated 3:1 gross return on investment. Members participating across multiple years demonstrated even greater improvements, underscoring the value of sustained engagement.
Another study focused on members with a history of falls found that PERS participants achieved nearly twice the inflation-adjusted reduction in medical spending compared with matched controls, saving an additional $183 per member per month while reducing overall healthcare costs for a particularly vulnerable population.
Collectively, the studies reinforce a consistent finding: when PERS is delivered as part of a proactive member engagement strategy rather than simply an emergency alert service, healthcare organizations can achieve measurable improvements in both quality and cost.
As Medicare Advantage organizations, particularly those managing D-SNP populations, Medicaid managed care plans, and state agencies continue to operate under increasing pressure to improve outcomes while managing costs, VRI believes programs that integrate technology with ongoing human engagement will play an increasingly important role in value-based care.
"Our results have now been replicated across multiple studies, populations and years," said Jeff Bennett. "That consistency gives health plans confidence that PERS can be much more than a supplemental benefit — it can become a scalable strategy for improving quality, strengthening member engagement and lowering healthcare costs."
To read the full case study and learn more about our programs, visit VRICares.com/library
About VRI
The VRI PERS platform is a connected safety and monitoring solution designed to proactively support quality improvement, delivering longitudinal insight and rapid access to emergency response. Alongside the clinical capabilities of Higi, VRI’s affiliate, jointly referred to as Monitoring, each organization’s solutions are designed to expand access to care in the community and home as wholly owned subsidiaries of Modivcare. Through 24/7/365 monitoring and engagement built on trust, PERS addresses emergency events, falls risk, frailty, and social isolation, while enabling early identification and proactively addressing emerging clinical and social needs, leading to timely intervention and improved health outcomes. Enhanced by VRI’s proprietary E3 engagement and navigation platform, we partner with states and managed care organizations to leverage PERS as a quality enhancement program that drives behavior change and directly closes HEDIS gaps in care. For more information, visit VRICares.com
SHARE
