Tele-Health Trial Proves its Usefulness

What’s the Latest Development?

A recent two-year trial of telehealth technology for monitoring people who are chronically ill found it works particularly well for people with conditions like diabetes and heart failure, COPD, arthritis and depression. The idea is that this removes the need for the patient to attend a clinic or hospital appointment, saving everyone time and money. A TV is not essential, some people used small hand-held devices.

What’s the Big Idea?

According to the results of the trial, telehealth can reduce mortality, reduce the need for admissions to hospital, lower the number of days spent in a hospital bed and cut the time spent in accident and emergency units. The technology means that patients in remote communities can be monitored closely without having to travel long distances to see their family doctor.