Remote Telemonitoring

Telecare/Telehealth

Telecare is the provision of 24 hour alarm monitoring systems for individuals in their homes which gives more freedom to live an independent life at home.

Telehealth is the monitoring of conditions by patients and collecting the data. Only a small number of people are on this pilot scheme. It is hoped this information could be used to develop technology for use in the future which would be used for remote health care.

Telecare

Telecare helps to manage risk and support independence by means of unobtrusive wireless sensors placed around the home which detect possible problems such as smoke, gas, flood or a person falling. Sensors automatically raise a local, audible alarm as well as alerting the 24 hour monitoring centre, who in turn will contact a carer or key holder.

Benefits:

• 24 hour reassurance – you are linked to the Telecare service, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
• Maintains/enhances independence, enabling people to have greater independence and choice in their own home
• Provides reassurance and peace of mind to the individual, and their carer or relatives
• Can reduce the need for care packages
• Can delay/avoid a move to a care home
• Can prevent the need, or reduce the length of a hospital admission.
• The equipment is non-intrusive and discreet, yet provides continuous, automatic and remote monitoring 24/7
• Easy to use and can be tailored to individual needs.
• Can provide access to a rapid response in the event of an emergency
• Can enhance the quality of life for vulnerable people
• Increases the safety and security of people living at home

Telehealth

In 2011 the five Health and Social Care Trusts entered into a contract with Tunstall for the provision of Remote Monitoring Services for Northern Ireland. The initial focus of the service concentrated on long term conditions.

This service included on line referrals, installation, maintenance and de-installation of equipment. Remote capturing and recording of vital signs data from patients and presentation of these along with patient’s responses and notes on a dashboard and provision of a clinical triage service for some patients.  The last patients were discharged from this service in October 2017.

A small number of pilots are ongoing regarding the use of Telehealth systems to capture data in very specific areas and there is a desire to develop through the Technology Enabled Care (TEC) to implement the wider use of technology to promote self-care and facilitate the provision of remote health care in the future.