Innovative Practice In Using ICT Working Together To Improve The Patient Journey

Innovative Practice In Using ICT Working Together To Improve The Patient Journey



Dr Roy Harper

Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist The Ulster Hospital (SET) Visiting Professor, School of Computing and Mathematics, University of Ulster



I Can’t Function Now Without ICT



Passionate About ?

• e-health / telehealth / telemedicine will transform healthcare (chronic disease) • Admired exemplars • Feel for this future • Pilots up and running • Integrating new approaches into clinical care • Developing and testing ‘prototypes’



In collaboration with -



University of Ulster Faculty of Computing & Engineering

School of Computing and Mathematics

Using ICT effectively to enhance patient care



Diabetes in the UK is Increasing

Ards 3.4% North Down 2.9%

3.5 3.0

Millions of people with diabetes



EHSSB 3.1%



2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 1940 1960 1980 1996 2004 2005 2010



Adapted from: 1. Diabetes UK. Diabetes in the UK 2004. Diabetes UK, London, 2004. 2. Diabetes UK. State of the Nation 2005. Diabetes UK, London, 2005.



The News is Good

• Complication rates can be reduced using current treatments • Shortfall in life expectancy can be reduced • Patient self-management is the key • Supported by well organised local diabetes care services



The Answer Lies in SelfManagement

• Patient Empowerment through



• Patient Education & Training leading to • Patient ‘Experts’ • Reliable up-to-date information and regular feedback on progress – essentials in enabling effective self-care in diabetes



The Challenge of Diabetes

• • • • • Sheer numbers Care now complex Too little time No intensive ongoing input / support Large amounts of self care data but………… • Limited ability to achieve therapeutic targets • Infrequent therapeutic interventions



ICT can help in so many ways

Supporting Patient Education Direct Patient Monitoring and Support Clinical Information and Management Systems Promoting Healthy Living / Disease Prevention



• Patients increasingly need (and demand) ready access to feedback on their progress with advice from HCPs • Ongoing Support and Regular Feedback on Progress



Home (self) monitoring technologies can transform episode driven health services into a relationship based continuum of care

E A Balas 1999



Evidence that ‘Telehealth’ works?

•

• • •



Improves outcomes - prevents hospitalisation, improves QOL, improves health status

Economically viable Improves patient (and HCPs) satisfaction The time for ‘pilots’ is over



Transformation from Industrial Age Medicine to Information Age Connected Healthcare

Industrial Age Medicine Information Age Medicine



Person



Transformation Through Cost-Effective Use of Information & Communication Technologies



Individual Self-Care

Friends and Family Community Networks



Community Primary Secondary



Professionals as Facilitators

Professionals as Partners



Professionals as Authorities



Tertiary



Source: Adapted from Malaysian Telemedicine Blueprint



Let’s Develop Better Solutions

• Diabetes portal – web • Virtual diabetes clinic • Linked (intrinsic) Glucometer • E-glucose diary with feedback • Store and forward • Decision support • Alerts to carers / HCPs • Physical activity monitor • Medication reminders • Phone, Music, Camera, Health Monitor • Etc…..



Lets Get ‘Connected’

• See e-health / telehealth / telemedicine transform healthcare (chronic disease)

• Share the feel for this future • Stop talking about getting ‘pilots up and running’ • Integrate new approaches into clinical care • Develop, test, and promote better solutions • Seek out collaborators • Seek out support • Share our expertise



Thanks For Your Attention

Jonathan Wallace

jg.wallace@ulster.ac.uk



Roy Harper

roy.harper@setrust.hscni.net