The TeleCare North project puts the patient in the center of attention from the GP, the hospital, the municipality, and family by the means of home monitoring.
An ageing population and a growing number of chronic patients means that more people will need healthcare in the future, which will put increased pressure on public finances. Adopting new technologies will help overcome this challenge and create a better and smarter healthcare system in which an empowerment of the patient is crucial.
The TeleCare North project ensures close monitoring of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and patients with heart failure by letting the patient measure indicators such as blood pressure or pulse rate in their own home. The patient is provided with the necessary equipment to perform the tests, while healthcare professionals can monitor the patient’s data and respond proactively to disease deterioration or other changes in the patient’s condition.
By measuring their health, patients become aware of how they can ease life with their disease – for example by seeing the effects of exercise and diet on oxygen saturation and heart rate.
The main beneficiaries are the patients, who experience an awareness and mastering of their own life.
The project is being rolled out in all regions and municipalities in Denmark.
The project has expanded its focus to other groups of patients e.g. diabetes, and will continue doing so.
Resources needed
The TeleCare Unit has a budget of Euro 1.3 mill. a year.
The monitoring of the patients is performed by nurses depending on number of patients.
Equipment for measurement of indicators and a tablet to use for report and monitoring has a price per kit of Euro 440 to 627 depending on type of patient
Evidence of success
61.7% experienced improved control of their disease.
71.7% experienced improved security by using the system.
50% experienced increased awareness of their COPD symptoms and responded proactively.
96% found the system “easy” or “very easy” to use.
27% of patients experienced more freedom.
Patients with severe COPD and all heart failure patients experienced significant improved quality of life.
Difficulties encountered
IT in patient’s homes – means support.
Understanding IT – can be difficult for citizens and clinicians.
The use of single log-on (NemID) can be a challenge.
Telemedicine data – meeting rules and regulations.
Potential for learning or transfer
The fact that so many patients involved in the project feel an empowerment in mastering their own life with a chronic disease indicate a potential for transfer.
The increase in patients with chronic diseases calls for solutions in which patients can be more involved in their own treatment and contribute to solutions specific for their life situation.
Reducing hospitalization benefits both patients and the healthcare system.
An increased awareness to symptoms, to responses of changes in lifestyle and in knowledge about their disease helps the patients to a better quality of life. It involves their relatives in a proactive manner, and it helps healthcare professionals to provide focused treatment to each patient.
The solution has been or is being transferred to all regions and municipalities in Denmark.
Tags: Good practice, Health, Healthcare, Project, Research, Research and development, Science, Technology
