BMJ: Impressive results for remote patient monitoring

For people with long-term conditions, remote patient monitoring can reduce deaths and help patients avoid the need for emergency hospital care, according to findings published in the British Medical Journal.

Launched in May 2008, the Whole System Demonstrator (WSD) cluster randomized trial is the largest of telehealth and telecare in the world, involving 6,191 patients and 238 general practitioner practices across three WSD program sites. More than 3,000 people with diabetes, heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were included in the telehealth trial.

Each of the three sites made their own decisions on the equipment they would use in their health and social care economies. The study looked at the data under five themes (service utilization; participant reported outcomes such as quality of life; cost effectiveness; user and professionals' experience; and influence of organizational factors to adoption). More detailed analysis of the data will be published in future papers.

According to the initial findings, if used correctly, telehealth can deliver a 15 percent reduction in emergency department visits, a 20 percent reduction in emergency admissions, a 14 percent reduction in elective admissions, a 14 percent reduction in bed days and an 8 percent reduction in tariff costs. They also demonstrated a 45 percent reduction in mortality rates.

At least three million people with long-term conditions and/or social care needs could benefit from using telehealth and telecare, according to the study's authors. To achieve this level of change, the Department of Health is planning to work with industry, the National Health Service, social care and professional partners in a collaboration called the “Three Million Lives” campaign. The detailed workplan for the campaign is in the early stages of development.