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Author: Lesley Barton, National Clinical and Training Manager, Bunzl & AMHC
Introduction:
Telehealth refers to the delivery of healthcare services through telecommunications technology, enabling remote consultations, diagnoses, and patient monitoring. This is especially valuable for individuals in underserved areas, such as an elderly woman from rural France who can schedule a telehealth appointment with a specialised incontinence nurse in Paris.
During the session, the doctor can identify the specific type of incontinence and provide personalised advice tailored to the patient’s needs, ensuring effective care despite the distance. The nurse might also guide the woman in using tools like a bladder diary app to track symptoms and monitor progress at home.
In summary, telehealth and home diagnostic equipment create a powerful tool that can save lives from the comfort of your home.
Evolution of Remote Care: From Necessity to Norm
According to the Europe PMC, telehealth was initially underutilised until the pandemic struck. The pandemic necessitated social distancing, and this was made possible by telehealth. Patients began to demand at-home care services, and this also resulted in the development of smart home diagnostic tools.
For example, smart tools such as blood glucose monitors and blood pressure cuffs became more commonly used. These tools could be integrated with telehealth applications for real-time data sharing between doctors and patients.
This resulted in better patient-centered care that prioritised convenience and accessibility. Over time, patients began to use these technologies and adopted them as a daily norm.
How Telehealth and Home Diagnostics Integrate: Creating a Connected Care Experience
Technology integration offers more than convenience. It is about establishing a continuous and data-driven relationship between patients and healthcare providers using technology. Some of the technologies being used in the telehealth world include the use of wearables and mobile health apps.
Wearables such as smartwatches with ECG monitoring capabilities can be used to detect falls and the likelihood of heart attacks. This is especially so when dealing with the elderly.
To improve the quality of healthcare, the wearables are connected to the telehealth system to ensure that the readings are seen in real time by a doctor.
Other important tools include Bluetooth-enabled diagnostic kits such as blood pressure cuffs and oxygen saturation monitors. These kits also transmit data directly to a clinic remotely.
Click here for complete info: Telehealth Integration with Home Diagnostics: Shaping the Future of Remote Care
