The Royal College of Nursing eHealth Guide

Posted on May 22, 2012 by gill

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have produced a very comprehensive guide for health care practitioners showing how the use of technology can compliment nursing practice.

This guide shows all of the areas that need consideration in order to successfully implement an eHealth programme. It presents a very balanced view of eHealth – detailing both benefits and potential drawbacks.

We wholeheartedly agree with what Dr. Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive and General Secretary has written in the foreword of this guide – “people rightly expect healthcare to meet their needs quickly”, “we know technology such as telehealth works, so let us improve access to it right across the UK”, “now is the time to put the power back in the hands of the patient.”

How Telemedicine Works

Posted on May 1, 2012 by gill

This is a great video that we found, which does exactly as the post title suggests – shows how Telemedicine works, it’s really worth a look for anyone with an interest in Telemedicine.

Millions of people suffer every year from a variety of Long Term Conditions (LTC) that could be remotely monitored using Telemedicine

Posted on April 17, 2012 by gill

For millions of people every year the reality of living with a Long Term Condition, such as hypertension, diabetes, depression and COPD can mean frequent hospital visits and stays, time off work and in many cases a reduced life expectancy.

An article that we recently read - Telehealth & Telemedicine: By the Numbers shows some very interesting statistics related to Telehealth & Telemedicine – such as – The average reduction in mortality rates in the U.S.A. due to the use of telehealth systems is a staggering 22%.

To put this in context for people suffering LTC in the U.K. which could be monitored and helped by Telehealth & Telemedicine -

At least 25,000 people die each year as a result of COPD and at least 6 in 10 of these people will suffer depression and/or anxiety.
At least 1 in 20 adults in UK have hypertension – rising to around 50% of people over 65 years, which equates to around 5 million people.
Around 2 in 3 adults will suffer from at least one episode of depression at some point in their lives.
There are 2.9 million people in the U.K. who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Presentation from The King’s Fund on the Impact of Telehealth on the Management of Long Term Conditions

Posted on March 20, 2012 by gill

We’ve recently read a great presentation from The King’s Fund which looks at the impact of telehealth on the management of Long Term Conditions – unsurprisingly to us, this impact was found to be positive overall.

The Kings Fund looked at 64 telehealth studies, which covered seven different long term health conditions. The majority of studies were for patients suffering with diabetes or heart failure/stroke.

In one heart failure case study, the use of telehealth was able to reduce the hospitalisation rate of effected patient by a massive 47.5%. In one diabetes case study the cost of giving care to the patients was reduced by €650 per patient versus traditional care methods. Not only did the diabetes case study reduce the healthcare costs, but it also reduced patient’s work absences.

If you would like to view the whole presentation click here.

Really interesting Telehealth article looking at what the NHS can learn from the largest implementation of telehealth in the world – The U.S. Veteran’s Health Association (VHA)

Posted on March 1, 2012 by gill

The methods used to implement changes such as the use of telehealth are a crucial factor for its success.

In 2011 around 50,000 VHA patients received telehealth services and this number looks set to rise, making this the largest implementation of telehealth worldwide. These telehealth services are for designated individuals and populations across the USA. Initially this programme’s focus was on the active management of chronic conditions and post traumatic stress disorder, however following this success it is moving into other areas such as obesity management.

Currently in the UK there are more than 15 million people who suffer from conditions that cannot be cured, but can be managed through medication. As part of the Life Sciences program, 3 million people will be given access to telehealth technology in their homes. The recently published Department of Health’s Whole System Demonstrator (WSD) Programme headline findings document shows how these patients can benefit from telecare. It has been acknowledged that with many telehealth pilot projects currently running within the NHS, the overall approach is somewhat disjointed.

There are a number of similarities between the VHA and NHS and it is with these similarities in mind where it is felt that the NHS could learn from the VHA’s telehealth experiences. The table below, showing the potential scale and cost saving within key disease groups across the NHS, has been taken from the full report – Telehealth – What can the NHS learn from experience at the US Veterans Health Administration? There is a lot of very useful and interesting information in this report – definitely worth a read!

MultiSense Communications’ Telestroke solution featured in National Health Executive

Posted on February 3, 2012 by gill

Our 24/7 telestroke solution is featured in The National Health Executive publication this month – Telemedicine a good practice case study

A great day at The Long Term Conditions Conference 2012!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by gill

Thank you to everyone who came to visit our stand at the Long Term Conditions conference on 1st February. It was very well attended, with lots of interest in our products and the demonstration of our telemedicine solutions.

To read more about Long Term Conditions and how telehealth can greatly benefit patients who suffer with these conditions, see The Department of Health’s Whole System Demonstrator (WSD) Programme headline findings document.

Telemedicine is enabling elderly patients to have real-time medical appointments without the need to travel

Posted on February 2, 2012 by gill

For many people, especially the elderly or those with mobility problems, making the journey to a medical appointment can be impossible. This can result in patients not receiving the treatment that they so desperately need.

The implementation of telemedicine enables remote consultations of these patients, with their doctors to take place, without the waste of time and money previously involved in travelling. At the Presbyterian Home For Central New York and New Hartford, videoconferencing has been deployed to allow just this sort of consultation to take place, click here to read the full story

European Commission backs eHealth Network

Posted on January 19, 2012 by gill

For the first time, EU legislation now includes provision of eHealth, with the introduction of an eHealth Network, the aim of which is to bring together national authorities responsible for eHealth, on a voluntary basis.

Click here to read the full press release…………

Lancashire & Cumbria Stroke Network’s Telestroke Solution from MultiSense Communications

Posted on January 11, 2012 by gill

We are really proud to have developed, in consultation with Lancashire & Cumbria Stroke Network the MultiSense Communications’ Telestroke Remote Consultation Solution. This has been implemented within Lancashire & Cumbria Stroke Network, who have produced a ‘Good Practice Telestroke Case Study’. So many patients have already benefited from the Telestroke implementation and these numbers are increasing daily, here are the latest patient figures.

An event not to miss if the care and treatment of patients with long term conditions is your area of interest

Posted on January 5, 2012 by gill

On the 1st February 2012 at the prestigious QEII Conference Centre, close to The Houses of Parliament in London, the Long – Term Conditions 2012 Conference gets underway. Come and see us on Stand 3.

A “not to be missed” event if you are a senior health and social care professional wanting to gain a comprehensive insight into Government plans for Long Term Care Conditions.

Long Term Conditions Conference at QEII Conference Centre, London 1st February 2012

With around 350 senior clinical and service managers attending this year’s event, it’s a great opportunity to mingle, share views and discuss with your peers, how care for patients with long term conditions is taking shape.

MultiSense Communications will be there supporting the conference and demonstrating our technologies that can really make a difference by further improving care and outcomes, reducing costs and helping to improve Consultant’s and Clinician’s productivity. Our high performance technology enables remote face to face consultations using specialist camera technologies.

For full details of the conference see – the conference website - we look forward to seeing you there!

Telehealth can really benefit NHS patients, but only if the changes are allowed to be implemented

Posted on December 22, 2011 by gill

We read a really interesting article from Paul Corrigan, giving his theories on why changes within the NHS, specifically the introduction of telemedicine are often thwarted simply because individuals do not want change. He even goes so far as to say that he feels that there is a “conspiracy within the NHS against the implementation of step change”. Paul Corrigan also points out some of the massive benefits that can be achieved through the implementation of telehealth.

As a company, MultiSense Communications, with our dedicated Healthcare Division have worked hard to build the good relationships that we enjoy with our NHS customers, enabling fears of change to be allayed as these relationships are, amongst other things built on trust. Why not have a look for yourself at some of the Healthcare work that we undertake.

David Cameron announces roll out of Telehealth Technology to 3 million people

Posted on December 7, 2011 by gill

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that as part of the Life Sciences program, 3 million people will be given access to telehealth technology in their homes. Currently in the UK there are more than 15 million people who suffer from conditions that cannot be cured, but can be managed through medication. It is these patients who can be remotely monitored by doctors and nurses who will be able to view patient’s vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar levels. These patients take up three quarters of all in-patient bed days, two thirds of all outpatient appointments and more than half of all GP visits, accounting for around 70 per cent of the total spend on health and social care.

In a keynote speech, David Cameron said: “This is going to make an extraordinary difference to people. Diabetics taking their blood sugar levels at home, and having them checked by a nurse. Heart patients having their blood pressure and pulse rate checked without leaving their home. Dignity, convenience and independence for millions.”

To see some of the many other applications of telemedicine, visit our Healthcare Division pages

Why Skype really isn’t right for Telemedicine

Posted on November 30, 2011 by gill

It’s something that we’ve felt for a long time – Skype isn’t right for Telemedicine – here’s a really interesting article we’ve read about just this. Have a look at our Healthcare Division to see how it should be done!

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The Specialist Telepresence and Medical Conferencing Company

Tag Archives: healthcare