Telehealth to facilitate Government’s screening programme
Following Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson’s announcement that free vascular screening is to be provided for everyone aged 40–74 from 1 April 2009, debate has flowed on the ability of current healthcare services to cope with the resulting increase in patient appointments. Telehealth Solutions are working with local health authorities to install their SurgeryPod, PharmacyPod, HomePod and CarePod, which can quickly and easily facilitate screening in health centres, pharmacies and in the wider community. Due to the self-monitoring features of the systems, the Pods can also reduce the impact increased screening may have on GPs and health workers.
The national vascular check programme aims to identify vulnerability to vascular diseases – heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease – which affect more than 4 million people in England. It is estimated that screening patients will prevent at least 9,500 heart attacks and strokes per year, 2,000 deaths per year and prevent at least 4,000 people developing diabetes.
Telehealth Solutions’ Pods provide a patient-friendly way of undertaking simple health monitoring by collecting information on health and lifestyle and encouraging an interactive approach to healthcare. SurgeryPods can be installed in GP surgeries; PharmacyPods in pharmacies and CarePods can be easily transported and used by peripatetic care workers. Furthermore, for those already diagnosed with a chronic disease, including cardio problems, the HomePod allows patients to record their vital signs from the comfort of their own home. As a result, the Telehealth Solutions Pods ensure easy access to vascular screening and, if appropriate, ongoing health monitoring, regardless of a patient’s location or mobility.
Jeremy Cummin, Executive Chairman of Telehealth Solutions states, ‘Our approach is to make everything as simple and as easy to use as possible. All our Pods are easily operated by patients and both HomePods and CarePods are easily transported. Our Pods deliver a wide range of health information not only directly to the people managing patients’ care but also to patients themselves. As a result, Telehealth Solutions’ Pods meet the high standards required for vascular screening and also offer great flexibility to care managers, providing an improved quality of service to patients. Our Pods will allow the UK’s vascular screening programme to be carried out as easily, effectively and as efficiently as possible.’
During the screening patients will take an active role in the monitoring of their own cardio-vascular health by using the Telehealth Solutions’ Pods themselves to measure their vital signs. This proactive and preventative approach to healthcare results in heightened patient awareness to encourage them to maintain or improve their health.
Telehealth Solutions are currently supplying Pods throughout the UK, and as far afield as New Zealand, with plans for further expansion.
Posted on Friday, 01 January 2010 under UK Government