Innovative Practice In Using ICT Working Together To Improve The Patient Journey Dr Roy Harper...

Innovative Practice In Using ICTWorking Together To Improve The

Patient Journey

Dr Roy HarperConsultant Physician and Endocrinologist

The Ulster Hospital (SET)

Visiting Professor, School of Computing and Mathematics, University of Ulster

I Can’t Function NowWithout ICT

Passionate About ?

• e-health / telehealth / telemedicine will transform healthcare (chronic disease)

• Admired exemplars• Feel for this future• Pilots up and running• Integrating new approaches into

clinical care• Developing and testing ‘prototypes’

University of UlsterFaculty of Computing & Engineering

School of Computing and Mathematics

Using ICT effectively to enhance patient care

In collaboration with -

Diabetes in the UK is Increasing

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

1940 1960 1980 1996 2004 2005 2010

Mill

ions

of p

eopl

e

with

dia

bete

s

Adapted from: 1. Diabetes UK. Diabetes in the UK 2004. Diabetes UK, London, 2004.2. Diabetes UK. State of the Nation 2005. Diabetes UK, London, 2005.

EHSSB 3.1%

Ards 3.4%

North Down 2.9%

The News is Good

• Complication rates can be reduced using current treatments

• Shortfall in life expectancy can be reduced

• Patient self-management is the key

• Supported by well organised local diabetes care services

The Answer Lies in Self-Management

• Patient Empowerment through

• Patient Education & Training leading to

• Patient ‘Experts’

• Reliable up-to-date information and regular feedback on progress – essentials in enabling effective self-care in diabetes

The Challenge of Diabetes

• Sheer numbers• Care now complex• Too little time• No intensive ongoing input / support • Large amounts of self care data

but…………• Limited ability to achieve therapeutic

targets• Infrequent therapeutic interventions

ICT can help in so many ways

Supporting Patient Education

Direct Patient Monitoring and Support

Clinical Information and Management Systems

Promoting Healthy Living / Disease Prevention

• Patients increasingly need (and demand) ready access to feedback on their progress with advice from HCPs

• Ongoing Support and Regular Feedback on Progress

Home (self) monitoring technologies can transform episode driven health services into a relationship based

continuum of care

E A Balas 1999

Evidence that ‘Telehealth’ works?

• Improves outcomes - prevents hospitalisation, improves QOL, improves health status

• Economically viable

• Improves patient (and HCPs) satisfaction

• The time for ‘pilots’ is over

Transformation from Industrial Age Medicine to Information Age Connected Healthcare

Source: Adapted from Malaysian Telemedicine Blueprint

Industrial Age Medicine Information Age Medicine

TransformationThrough Cost-Effective

Use of Information & Communication Technologies

Person

Community

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Individual Self-Care

Friends and Family

Community Networks

Professionals as Facilitators

Professionals as Partners

Professionals as Authorities

Let’s Develop Better Solutions

• Diabetes portal – web• Virtual diabetes clinic• Linked (intrinsic) Glucometer• E-glucose diary with feedback• Store and forward• Decision support• Alerts to carers / HCPs• Physical activity monitor• Medication reminders• Phone, Music, Camera,

Health Monitor• Etc…..

Lets Get ‘Connected’

• See e-health / telehealth / telemedicine transform healthcare (chronic disease)

• Share the feel for this future• Stop talking about getting ‘pilots up and

running’• Integrate new approaches into clinical care• Develop, test, and promote better solutions

• Seek out collaborators• Seek out support• Share our expertise

Thanks For Your Attention

Jonathan Wallace

jg.wallace@ulster.ac.uk

Roy Harper

roy.harper@setrust.hscni.net