NHS Central Lancashire has introduced a remote patient care management tool to help chronically ill patients in Preston monitor and manage their health at home.
The Intel Health Guide is being piloted with 40 patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The Intel Health Guide, available in the UK from GE Healthcare, allows patients to measure vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse rate and weight and respond to questions on a daily basis.
The data are reviewed by the community matron team. The technology includes a videoconferencing capability, enabling the patients to talk with community matrons.
The care team can use this system to assess the patient for early signs that their condition is worsening. Early recognition and treatment of a change in symptoms can reduce the need for admissions to hospital. The technology also helps patients to manage their own condition and identify problems.
Anne Walton, NHS Central Lancashire’s community matron locality lead, said: “This new technology allows patients to take a more active role in their own care and to learn more about their own condition. If this pilot is deemed a success it will potentially open up a new way of working for community matrons and other services, helping to improve the existing quality service we provide to our patients.”
The pilot, which started in June 2010, will run for 12 months across Preston and will be evaluated at regular intervals. If it is successful, NHS Central Lancashire aims to extend it to patients with diabetes, hypertension and heart failure.
Richard Rees-Davies, GE Healthcare’s Home Health UK General Manager, said: “New health technologies like the Intel Health Guide can make a real difference by extending care from the hospital to the home. In particular it will help to improve access, increase quality and reduce the cost of healthcare, bringing benefits to patients, health practitioners and the health service.”