Telehealth Solutions and NHS Highland have won a prestigious eHealth Award for 'Best Use of Innovation in Patient Care'. In March 2009, the firm’s HomePod, SurgeryPod and CommunityPod were used to monitor COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patients. The objective was to improve the quality of patient care and reduce the cost of care for the NHS.
The region covered by NHS Highland includes several remote locations, including islands, where emergency medical attention can only be provided by helicopter at massive cost to NHS Highland.
The HomePod is used to measure, among other things, blood pressure and lung function. The results of all patient tests are immediately sent to a carer and medication or treatment can be administered well before the problem turns into an emergency. This not only saves lives but also saves patients the stress and upheaval of having to go into hospital. COPD sufferers were given the HomePod to prevent exacerbations and improve their quality of life.
CommunityPods and SurgeryPods allow patients to check their blood pressure, lung function and oxygen saturation without the need for help from practice staff. It also means the can receive a check at any time, as often as they liked. The Pods reduce the demand for acute care and increase in the efficiency of primary care, and according to the official evaluation for the project, reduced hospital admissions by more than 90%.
