Telehealth technology to be implemented on Bute

Work has begun on the installation of pioneering telehealth technology on the Isle of Bute after significant investment from NHS Highland and Argyll and Bute Council. Telehealth Solutions will install fifteen of their home monitoring pods to administer and support patient care on the island.

The Telehealth home monitoring pods will be rolled out to patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a chronic condition which, according to the British Lung Foundation, kills more than 4000 Scots every year. The HomePod enables patients to measure their own vital signs such as heart rate, weight, blood pressure and blood oxygen levels, and delivers a wide range of health information directly to the people managing their care.

NHS Highland Project Manager Lynn Garrett states;

“This technology provides an improved quality of service to patients through a proactive and preventive approach to healthcare. It engages the patient in a partnership approach to the management of their condition with local health professionals. Not only that but in rural areas it could contribute to the reduction in unnecessary patient travel, as this information can be viewed by clinicians remote from the patient.

“There are also vast potential benefits to clinicians and health care workers, including a possible reduction in admissions to hospital and a higher level of available patient information.

“The introduction of this technology will improve the lives of our patients, compliment the expertise of our staff and put Argyll and Bute at the forefront of the use of telehealth.”

Plans are in place to extend Telehealth Solution’s technology throughout Scotland, with further installations in Oban and the island of Luing over the coming months. These will be multi-user pods, situated in GP surgeries, care homes and pharmacies, allowing patients proactively to manage their healthcare.

Posted on Tuesday, 22 December 2009