Health Sector
Telehealth is increasingly being used by Primary Care Organisations as a means of
- reducing demand on unscheduled care
- reducing admissions to hospital
- reducing demand on primary care
- increasing capacity for case managers
- improving self care and patient confidence
GP’s/PBC
With 80% of GP consultations related to a long-term condition (DH Department Report 2005) there is a great need to reduce unnecessary GP visits caused by exacerbations and anxiety attacks.
The Orchard Medical Centre, Bristol has been running a telehealth scheme for 2 years to understand how telehealth can assist people with significant heart failure at practice level in real primary care.
Audits show that such proactive care for patients with complex clinical conditions can reap many rewards in terms of
- Compliance with medication
- Trends are noticed more easily
- Self care and confidence
- Which in turn improves quality of life and can reduce hospital admissions.
There is also an impact on acute services whereby the Orchard Medical Centre reduced hospital admissions by 46% and A&E visits by 67% for those patients using telehealth.
Latest news
Click here to read the latest news.
Under Pressure - tackling the financial challenge for councils of an ageing population
A report published on 18 February by the Audit Commission, describes how councils across the UK will have to cope with extra demand for social care and it feared many authorities were still unprepared.
Click here to read the full report.
The financial squeeze could finally force the NHS to restructure itself around community services.
Jim Easton highlighted the better adoption of technologies such as telehealth as critically important to improving community services. “We need to get serious about identifying and adopting those. They can put people in control of their own health and release huge amounts of duplication in wasted time from professional staff. In community services, getting technology to unlock quality, professional time and cost was critical and I am really interested in people who were ambitious to lead in this.”
Source: Jim Easton, National Director for improvement and efficiency, speaking to HSJ at the Challenge for Community Services conference in London 22.10.09 http://www.hsj.co.uk/news/primary-care/nhs-efficiency-tsar-recession-is-a-chance-for-change/5007554.article
NHS Dudley Wins Award for Innovative Telehealth Deployment
NHS Dudley has received an award for its innovative approach to managing long-term conditions such as heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the home through the use of telehealth. Read more
Anglesey and Gwynedd Deploy Dual Language Telehealth Solutions for Community COPD Care
Anglesey and Gwynedd Local Authorities have announced the launch of a joint telehealth monitoring service, which will provide improved care pathways and more person-centred support for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within the home. Read more
Literature
Latest events
| February 2010 |
| 24 Feb | Assisted Living Special Interest Group: Digital Technologies for Home Based Healthcare | Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire |
| 24 Feb | Maximise your opportunity to sell to the NHS in Scotland | The Teacher Building, Glasgow |
| March 2010 |
| 23 Mar | Leadership and Management in the NHS | Central London |
| April 2010 |
| 15 – 16 Apr | Managing Long Term Conditions | Harrogate International Centre |
Find out more about telehealth Call our heath team today 01977 660543