Patients on the remote island of Bute - in the western coast of Scotland - who suffer from chronic diseases can now monitor their health conditions from the comfort of their own homes.

Thanks to a telecare device developed by a private company, doctors can monitor patients with serious lung conditions, without the patient even having to leave their home, or the doctor their surgery. The system has improved patients' life conditions and has made doctors' lives at work easier. Furthermore, this telecare device also helps the National Health System (NHS) save money by reducing the need for costly hospital admissions. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that one of the major benefits of this electronic device is the freedom it gives patients to manage conditions like the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD).

COPD is a progressive disease, which can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and other symptoms that escalate during the cold winter months. According to the British Lung Foundation, COPD kills more than 4 000 Scottish a year and, given that cold weather also heightens the risks posed by chest infections, the news that modern telehealth technology is riding to the rescue could not have come at a better time.

With the easy-to-use home device, people can monitor their vital signs on a daily basis, checking their lung function, blood pressure, etc. And once the information is processed into the device, it is then sent on to their General Practitioner (GP) at the surgery.

A total of 15 telehealth devices were installed in the homes of patients on Bute in March 2009 and the benefits were immediately apparent when, just weeks after the project went live, the first unplanned hospital admission was avoided. The NHS Highland, Argyll & Bute Council and the private company that developed the device received a major industry award for this innovative project.

NHS Highland's Project Manager, Lynn Garrett and the Product Manager of the private firm, Charles Lowe received the 'Improvement and Innovation Award' at the Scottish Health Awards, in Edinburgh, in November 2009.

The award was a fitting pinnacle to the success enjoyed by the pioneering project since its inception. Early evaluations would suggest that further admissions have been saved but a structured evaluation, carried out in partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands, will shortly be conducted. Once the results are known, the findings will be shared with other health authorities.

Further information:

• Original news article - eHealthNews.eu Portal