Report: Scotland should look to telehealth for better patient care
The National Health Service (NHS) for Scotland should do more to consider telehealth when introducing or redesigning services, according to a report published by Audit Scotland, an organization that assists the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission in making sure organizations that spend public money in Scotland use it properly.
“It provides an opportunity to treat patients in new ways, and to help manage rising costs and demand,” the Edinburgh-based agency stated.
The report, “A review of telehealth in Scotland,” looks at how the health service is providing care to patients at a distance, using a range of technologies such as mobile phones, the internet, digital television, video-conferencing and self-monitoring equipment.
The report stated NHS board of directors must look at new ways for delivering care, particularly as the NHS is facing growing demand. “Telehealth has the potential to help deliver clinical services more efficiently and effectively, and boards should be considering it when introducing or redesigning services,” the report noted.
Telehealth benefits include less travel, faster diagnoses and fewer hospital admissions. However, there have been limited opportunities for the clinical staff to gain experience of using it, and more education and training is needed, the report found.
“The NHS in Scotland is facing serious pressures, from the aging population and increasing numbers of people with long-term health conditions such as diabetes and respiratory illnesses. Telehealth could help to provide a range of services efficiently and effectively. Where it has been used, patients, doctors and nurses generally like it,” said Auditor General for Scotland, Robert Black
Audit Scotland looked at the use of telehealth to monitor patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) at home. The report concluded that telehealth management of COPD patients at home might help NHS boards avoid costs of around £1,000 (USD 1,582) per patient per year, mostly through reducing admissions to hospital.
The Scottish Centre for Telehealth has recently been merged into NHS 24 and the Scottish Government has put in place a new e-health strategy. These changes should help the development of telehealth services across the country, Audit Scotland concluded.
“It provides an opportunity to treat patients in new ways, and to help manage rising costs and demand,” the Edinburgh-based agency stated.
The report, “A review of telehealth in Scotland,” looks at how the health service is providing care to patients at a distance, using a range of technologies such as mobile phones, the internet, digital television, video-conferencing and self-monitoring equipment.
The report stated NHS board of directors must look at new ways for delivering care, particularly as the NHS is facing growing demand. “Telehealth has the potential to help deliver clinical services more efficiently and effectively, and boards should be considering it when introducing or redesigning services,” the report noted.
Telehealth benefits include less travel, faster diagnoses and fewer hospital admissions. However, there have been limited opportunities for the clinical staff to gain experience of using it, and more education and training is needed, the report found.
“The NHS in Scotland is facing serious pressures, from the aging population and increasing numbers of people with long-term health conditions such as diabetes and respiratory illnesses. Telehealth could help to provide a range of services efficiently and effectively. Where it has been used, patients, doctors and nurses generally like it,” said Auditor General for Scotland, Robert Black
Audit Scotland looked at the use of telehealth to monitor patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) at home. The report concluded that telehealth management of COPD patients at home might help NHS boards avoid costs of around £1,000 (USD 1,582) per patient per year, mostly through reducing admissions to hospital.
The Scottish Centre for Telehealth has recently been merged into NHS 24 and the Scottish Government has put in place a new e-health strategy. These changes should help the development of telehealth services across the country, Audit Scotland concluded.