Jim Methven, the Regional Medical Physics Department's (RMPD) Head of Electronics at Newcastle General Hospital, is part of a team exploring the possibility of monitoring a patient's health at home. The Telemedicine project has investigated the acceptance of home monitoring by patients, caters and health care professionals. It has also explored equipment application and safety. It has been a useful way of applying available technology to new ways of delivering health care and providing clinicians with additional options for diagnosis or the monitoring of physiological signals. It also has the benefit of providing patients with more choice and is thought to be a good way of delivering a more cost effective service.
It is a result of collaboration between the Northern Primary Care Development Centre at NGH, Respiratory medicine at Durham's Dryburn Hospital, the Newcastle Muscle Centre at Newcastle's RVI, Newcastle City Council Community Care Alarm Centre, the Tunstall Group Ltd. RGB Medical, Madrid, Spain and RMPD.
Two clinical trials, involving 23 volunteer patients have been concluded. The first trial was with patients with muscular dystrophy. In this trial nine patients, all under 18 years old, took part in an overnight sleep study. The majority of the patients, 86 per cent, thought the equipment was reliable and were satisfied and the clinical users thought the system was useful for the patients. The main benefit expressed by the patients was the avoidance of hospital visits.
The second trial was in patients with breathing disorders. Fourteen patients took part in routine monitoring four times a day for a week. The majority of patients, 93 per cent, thought the equipment was reliable and easy to use and the clinical users thought the system was very user friendly. The main benefit expressed was rapid diagnosis of a change in condition and the subsequent clinical intervention.
Planned developments include spirometry, blood sugar measurement and the addition of mobile phone technology.
Regional Medical Physics Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.
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Regional Medical Physics Department, a Clinical Directorate of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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