Telemedicine project cuts stays in hospital by half

Clinical evaluation of a new telemedicine initiative by Carlisle Housing Association and Carlisle and District Primary Care Trust has praised the success of telemedicine in providing proactive care and support and improving the quality of life for people with chronic diseases.

The project, using equipment from Tunstall, has successfully freed up NHS resources and budget.

The telemedicine monitor allows patients to measure their own temperature, pulse oximetry, heart rate, breathing rate, ECG and non invasive blood pressure. It then records the results and sends them over the phone line to a secure server where they are saved as an electronic patient record, accessible by the clinician or project nurse.

Healthcare professionals working in Carlisle have embraced telemedicine solutions, which have enabled more effective management of chronic respiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The initiative has seen hospital stay for patients suffering from COPD reduced by almost 50%, from 10 days down to 5.5 days.

According to the National COPD Audit (2004), COPD costs the NHS £818 million each year. Telemedicine is playing a key role in alleviating some of this burden on the NHS, by providing proactive home monitoring, which enables early diagnosis and intervention to help prevent deterioration in a patient's condition and thus reduce the need for hospital stays, GP visits and drugs.

The research from Carlisle also highlights the positive impact of telemedicine as part of the Trust's COPD outreach team in helping patients to receive the monitoring they need in their own homes. The telemedicine solutions used in Carlisle increase independence and quality of life for COPD sufferers and assists them in managing their own condition. The COPD outreach team identifies patients suitable for the telemedicine service. In conjunction with Carlisle Careline Service they then deliver a supported discharge package, including a monitor to help to check their vital signs and gain a better understanding of their condition.

As a result, patients feel less anxious and are reassured by the knowledge that help is on its way when they need it. If readings on the monitor deviate from levels set by the clinician an alert is sent to Carlisle Housing Association Careline Services, where the appropriate assistance can be requested, 24 hours a day.

Carlisle's innovative approach to COPD management has been praised by NHS Innovations North. Kay Douglas, Senior Clinical Manager Intermediate Care Team for Carlisle and District PCT said: “This initiative is at the forefront of healthcare delivery. It's a win-win situation for patients and their carers, who are now benefiting from more effective chronic disease management.

“This service enables us to deliver more proactive care and support for patients, who can remain living independently with the reassurance that help is at hand should they need it. Telemedicine units enable us to make early intervention, helping us to adopt a more preventative approach to care, which has helped to reduced hospital readmissions.”

The COPD outreach team is continuing to use the telemedicine monitors as an integral part of its mainstream service for Chronic Disease Management. Carlisle Careline is actively looking at how the telemedicine service can be developed and expanded into the management of other chronic disease. People wishing to receive a copy of the Clinical Evaluation and Research Document should contact Tunstall Marketing on 01977 661234.

The telemedicine package consists of an S21 telemedicine monitor which allows patients to measure their own temperature, pulse oximetry, heart rate, breathing rate, ECG and non invasive blood pressure. The S21 monitor records the results and sends them over the phone line to a secure server where they are saved as an electronic patient record, accessible by the clinician or project nurse.