Digital remote monitoring reduces emergency hospital admissions from care homes

A digital remote monitoring technology deployed in care homes resulted in a 11 percent decrease in A&E attendances and a 25 percent reduction in emergency admissions.
The study, conducted by HDR UK in collaboration with universities including Sheffield, Durham, Lancaster, and Newcastle, analyzed data from over 8,700 residents in 118 care homes across the North East of England. The Health Call app, developed by NHS-owned digital company Health Call, enabled care home staff to monitor residents' long-term health by recording daily observations. This information facilitated timely intervention and care planning by healthcare professionals.

The study,  published in Age and Ageing - the official journal of the British Geriatrics Society, highlights the potential of digital remote monitoring technology to improve care for older adults, particularly those with complex medical needs.
Care home staff reported increased confidence in identifying deterioration and managing illnesses earlier, potentially preventing hospitalization. Cost analysis revealed a reduction in NHS costs per resident, indicating potential cost savings associated with the implementation of digital remote monitoring technology.

As the UK population ages, solutions like digital remote monitoring technology are essential for enhancing healthcare delivery and improving quality of life for older adults.

The study underscores the importance of leveraging routinely collected healthcare data to inform research and drive improvements in patient care. Collaboration between healthcare providers, researchers, and technology developers is crucial for realizing the full potential of digital health solutions in transforming healthcare delivery. Jo Knight, Professor in Applied Data Science at Lancaster Medical School and member of the Lancaster University Data Science Institute, emphasizes: “Given the opportunities that will result from the investment into NHS secure data environments, this research looking at how to use routinely collected data to improve health outcomes is timely and important.”

COMPAMED-tradefair.com; Source: HEALTH DATA RESEARCH UK