Session S24.5

Early Experiences of the Use of Remote Patient Monitoring for the Long Term Management of Chronic Disease

M Clarke*, J Fursse, RW Jones

Brunel University
Uxbridge, UK

We describe our experiences of using remote patient monitoring to support the long term management and clinical intervention in patients with chronic disease. Within the project we developed new algorithms to determine from vital signs collected on a daily basis, those patients requiring clinical investigation for their condition. Our aim was for patients to achieve and sustain clinically recommended values for parameters. Our study was based in Chorleywood Health Centre, a medium sized general practice to the NW of London. From a total population of 6000 registered patients, 724 were determined to have CHF; type II diabetes mellitus; and essential hypertension, some having two or more. 173 were chosen randomly and invited to take part in the study. Of these 51 accepted the invitation to participate in the study. Each participant was provided with an RPM unit for a 12 week period. We had a further 3 patients with no equipment. RPM used with automated personalized intervention algorithms and a clinical protocol was found to be very effective in the long term management of patients with chronic disease in this primary care setting. It was particularly effective in the case of newly diagnosed patients, patients needing change in medication, those unwilling to comply, and those with poor long term control, as it supported an aggressive targeted strategy for intervention. In our study, the telemonitoring prompted clinical intervention in 37% of patients. By shifting the focus of care away from managing acute exacerbations, clinicians can use RPM to recognize those of their patients who would most benefit from monitoring. The clinical information provided by RPM allows both healthcare professional and patient to confront issues together and resolve difficulties. Awareness of the physiological measurements and learning their value from the clinical team empowers patients in gaining self-determination in understanding and managing their own illness resulting in benefits for themselves, their healthcare professionals, and the health economy.

(Abstract Control Number: 243)