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Swindon COPD Swindon COPD TelehealthTelehealth

goes mainstreamgoes mainstream

Anna Field Anna Field –– Acting Assistant Director for Acute Acting Assistant Director for Acute

CommissioningCommissioning

Helen Rollings Helen Rollings -- Community MatronCommunity Matron

Evolution of Assistive Technology

in Swindon

� 1980s – ‘Homeline’ community alarm service,

Borough Council service, chargeable and not

means tested

� 2007 – DoH Assistive technology grant

� Telecare, Council service, means tested

� Telehealth, PCT Provider service

…using technology as part of a persons care

management plan.

…to assist and improve the care of people with long

term conditions.

…just one part of the wider assistive technology

services (eg; life lines, falls monitors)

Telehealth is…. Why telehealth

� Focus on respiratory disease to fit PCT priorities

� Supports NSF for Long Term Conditions

� Support ‘self-management’

� Support Joint Carers Strategy

Development

� Fully integrated project team with Social Care,

Housing, Intermediate Care, Joint Teams

� Learning from long history of Telecare and

response service in Swindon

� COPD identified as high level of need concurrent

with cessation of previous support service

= prime innovation/development opportunity

What it does

� management tool for people with long term

conditions (e.g. respiratory or CHD)

� remote monitoring of blood pressure, blood

oxygen saturation levels, weight and heart rate

� used in tandem with clinical and patient

management plans

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Strategy – Joining the Islands!

Patients

& Carers

Response

Strategy – ‘TelecTelecTelecTelecAIRAIRAIRAIR’’’’

Patient uses deviceMonitor asks questionsData - secure transferProfessional

Decision

Appropriate

Response

Right

Outcome

Referral

� Referrals arrive from primary and secondary care

� Community Matron assesses the patient

� Occupational Therapist visits and determines

quality of life and anxiety level� before and after evaluation – qualitative

Pictures Courtesy of Honeywell HomMed and Tunstall

Readings sent via

phone line to

central monitor in

the Clover Centre

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Readings

monitored by a

senior nurse.

2

Nurse mobilises Community

Matron, in hours or ..

admission avoidance nurse

out of hours if ..

assessment and retest

indicates action required

Nurse assessment and

retest indicate no further

action required

4a

4b

Nurse telephones patient

If readings are outside

set parameters or person

has not used equipment

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The Equipment

Pulse oximeter

Scales,

BP cuff

Pictures Courtesy of Honeywell HomMed and Tunstall

Added Value/Use

In addition to monitoring the person’s condition,

the equipment is used for..

� Health promotion and education

� Reducing anxiety,

Both contribute to an improved quality of life

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Six Month Evaluation

� Most patients reported a reduction in anxiety

� Carers reported their anxiety was reduced

� Reduction hospital admissions

� mean no. of acute admissions fell from 1.5 to 0.6

� Additional health issues identified e.g. Diabetes

Successes

� Service users and carers like it

� Dedicated project management

� Energetic steering group for implementation of

Telehealth

� 4 months into project – 11 clients on Telehealth

� 6 month pilot to evaluate savings

� Established solid service model for 1 client group

� Health & Council services working together

Lessons learnt

� Continuation of a steering group required after initial implementation

� Think about how savings are going to be identified before you start

� Purchased kit ahead of identifying clients

� Agree a strategy at the beginning (& monitoring)

� Start small but grow

� GP engagement important

� Develop Telecare and Telehealth together

Swindon Assistive Technology

Strategy Aims

1. Promote independence and put people in

control of their own lives.

2. Responsively monitor people in need.

3. Use of professionals’ time efficiently.

4. Implement sustainable and viable solutions.

5. Support carers through technology that

increases confidence and reduces anxiety

Swindon’s Assistive Technology

Strategies

1. Develop a culture where staff members want to

access Assistive Technology.

2. Develop an integrated person-centred service across

Assistive Technology services.

3. Promote awareness of Assistive Technology and

expand Telecare and Telehealth service delivery

beyond Swindon.

4. Roll-out of Assistive Technology units so we have

180 Telehealth and 200 Telecare by end 10/11.

Any questions?