Tunstall Healthcare pilot explores how telehealth can support chronically ill people at home
Healthcare technology firm Tunstall Healthcare has been involved in a collaborative 12-week telehealth pilot project in Ireland to explore how remote technologies can support vulnerable people with chronic illnesses..
Undertaken in County Wexford in 2021, the pilot was overseen by a multi-agency stakeholder group, which included: Age Friendly Ireland, Integrated Care Programme in the HSE, Wexford General Hospital, Tunstall Emergency Response and Wexford County Council-Age Friendly Programme.
The project set out to provide a 12-week telehealth intervention, where Tunstall telehealth equipment was provided to 50 patients with a chronic illness. This pilot was independently evaluated by Waterford Institute of Technology.
The aim of the pilot project was to establish a proof of concept for the provision of a telehealth service for three chronic conditions (chronic heart failure, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in County Wexford, with a potential to scale up nationally.
The research aimed to evaluate the pilot telehealth intervention, considering the impacts of the intervention on the patient’s clinical condition and wellbeing; in-person use of health services; ascertaining patient and clinician perceptions of the intervention and technology; and an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the intervention.
Gavin Bashar, UK Managing Director at Tunstall Healthcare, commented: “Redesigning healthcare services using digital technologies lies at the heart of national and international policies for future health provision, helping to manage increasing demand effectively and improve population health.
“Telehealth can be used to support people to self manage their chronic health conditions within their own homes, and international research has demonstrated the many benefits of such remote monitoring, including cost savings.”
There were two healthcare technologies used for the project: the myMobile patient app and the triageManager clinical management software platform.
myMobile is a patient app that enables self-management and monitoring. The app collects data from monitoring devices on vital signals. It provides a range of benefits including automatically updated readings via Bluetooth connected devices and the ability for manual entry of readings and automated alerts and activity reminders.
triageManager is a clinical management software platform that enables clinical and service teams to monitor patients remotely. The system enables a number of outputs including automated prioritisation tools and summary reports for clinicians.
Commenting on the technology, Suzanne Denieffe, Head of the School of Humanities at Waterford Institute of Technology, said: “The Tunstall technology was very clear and easy to use, and the Tunstall team offered expert support throughout, helping to deliver a really efficient service.
“Tunstall worked closely with all stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, the county council, and Age Friendly Ireland, which was key to the success of the project. Patients felt very supported, and it became clear how much telehealth helps self-management.”
Patients were highly engaged with the project, according to the telehealth firm, with 98 per cent of readings recorded. There were also low levels of attrition, which were partly due to the support provided by Tunstall with any queries they had and reminders to take readings, the company adds.
James Doyle, Managing Director of Tunstall Emergency Response, added: “Telehealth is the future of healthcare as it offers services that can be designed around the patient, providing support in the community and helping to keep people out of hospital.
“The HSE in Ireland is committed to digital transformation and driving service improvement using technology.”
Due to the success of the first phase, a second phase is planned to commence this year, covering five counties and 250 patients.
As Ireland’s population ages, there is a corresponding increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, which are major causes of morbidity and mortality. In 2020, the HSE estimated that 1.3 million people in Ireland were living with one of the major chronic diseases: cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma or diabetes, and this is set to increase by around 40 per cent in the next decade.
Tunstall Group has focused on technology for the health, housing and social care sectors for more than 60 years. With an estimated five million users in 22 countries, it works across Europe, the Middle East and Australasia.
More recently, the telecare provider announced its involvement and sponsorship of the newly launched ADASS (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) and TEC Services Association (TSA) joint commission into how technology enabled care (TEC) can support the social care sector.
https://thiis.co.uk/tunstall-healthcare-pilot-explores-how-telehealth-can-support-chronically-ill-people-at-home/https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/mymobile-Tunstall-900x675-Mar-22.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/mymobile-Tunstall-900x675-Mar-22-150x150.jpgNewsroomSector NewsSupplier Newschronic illness,Health Service Executive,Telehealth,telehealth Ireland,telehealth pilot,Tunstall HealthcareHealthcare technology firm Tunstall Healthcare has been involved in a collaborative 12-week telehealth pilot project in Ireland to explore how remote technologies can support vulnerable people with chronic illnesses.. Undertaken in County Wexford in 2021, the pilot was overseen by a multi-agency stakeholder group, which included: Age Friendly Ireland, Integrated...Millie YorkMillie Yorkmillie.york@bhta.comEditorTHIIS Magazine