Connected health technologies are demonstrating their value in cardiac care, particularly for patients with heart failure. Recent studies have shown that telemonitoring programs have a significant impact on efficiency of care and quality of life, while decreasing re-hospitalization rates.
We have also recently begun a study evaluating the use of a blood pressure self-management system and its effect on blood pressure.
The area of teledermatology is showing great potential in delivering personalized, quality patient care despite a critical shortage of qualified dermatologists. By using digital cameras and the Internet, patients and their dermatologists can interact and stay connected throughout the course of treatment. Physicians can review images sent by the patient or adjust medication, and get reimbursed for the care provided.
Second Life, a virtual metaverse, was created by Linden Labs in 2001 and is defined by its creator as a “3D world, imagined, created and owned by its residents.” This virtual environment thrives on the interactions of real world individuals and their CGI residents or avatars. The avatars interact with people, businesses and organizations in a 3D environment. There are currently 7.5 million residents in Second Life.
The Center for Connected Health recognizes Second Life as a new, unique, and rich communications medium that deserves attention and research.
SmartBeat is a hypertension/diabetes self-management monitoring service offered by the Center for Connected Health to self-insured employers.
Diabetes is a chronic and growing illness that affects more than 20 million adults and children in the U.S. Patients with diabetes can avoid serious health complications associated with the disease, by maintaining blood glucose (sugar) levels within a normal range and minimizing daily sugar intake. The Center for Connected Health is working on a number of connected health models of care to address this mounting health crisis, including a program with the Massachusetts General Hospital Ambulatory Practice of the Future, to design a remote monitoring system to help diabetes patients collect and transmit their blood sugar readings, access their personal health data and understand their glucose trends from the convenience of their home.
Connected health is evolving as a solution to a growing healthcare supply and demand challenge. In the area of dermatology, patient access to care is becoming threatened by the severe shortage of qualified dermatologists. An innovative web-based clinical workflow prototype allows patients to use a customized online questionnaire and upload digital images of their facial acne. The physician can then respond to the questionnaire, review the images, prescribe medications and be reimbursed for the e-visit.
A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that 50% of patients with chronic disease do not take their medication as prescribed. Poor medication adherence leads to increasingly poor health outcomes for patients and has a significant negative economic impact on healthcare resources. Readily-available communications technology can provide real-time information and feedback to patients, to support improved medication adherence.
When receiving an unusual or life-threatening diagnosis, patients seek second opinions from medical specialists, to explore options, find answers and, often, simply want peace of mind. Online second opinion programs can give patients access to the highest quality care without having to travel or wait weeks for an appointment with a specialist. A specialist provides an opinion on a patient’s diagnosis or treatment plan, which the patient can then review with their local physician. Remote consultations are also helping to improve patient care and ongoing education of local healthcare workers in remote areas of the world.
Connected health programs can facilitate patient self-management and encourage consumers to take a more active role in their health. Real-time access to personal health data and targeted patient education encourages healthy lifestyle decisions and wellness efforts. Patient self-management programs, utilizing connected health technologies, are being applied to a number of mounting health crises, including obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Early wound diagnosis and treatment increases the quality of care to the patient and decreases overall health care costs. Yet, there is a shortage of wound care nursing specialists to evaluate and treat these patients and, as a result, only the most serious wounds can be evaluated directly by a wound care specialist. The use of telecommunications technologies can improve access to wound care specialists.