Web-based tool for chronic diseases launched in UK
pharmafile | March 6, 2012 | News story | Medical Communications | Curavista Health, HealthCare21, MyHealthMonitor, telecare, telehealth
A new electronic tool to help patients and their doctors monitor long-term conditions has been launched in the UK.
The MyHealthMonitor, created by Curavista Health, is a web-based tool that allows real-time monitoring of patient vitals, self-help tools, alerts and bespoke treatment plans.
It also has an ‘eConsult’ tool that connects patients in their homes to doctors in their clinics, meaning patients do not have to travel to their doctor’s office.
The tool is seen as both educational for patients and, the firm says, it can also help with patient outcomes by allowing them more control over their disease.
The tool was fist launched in Curavista’s native Netherlands where it currently supports over 50,000 patients in 12 disease areas, including COPD, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and heart disease.
Dr L. Sinnige, a neurologist who has used the MyHealthMonitor MS programme in the Netherlands, said: “MS is a disease which causes neurological damage throughout the body and therefore the patient can have symptoms of all kinds. Before we used the programme it was difficult to address precisely the right concerns during the consultations.
“Today, we can address relevant issues for each patient and they are able to ask questions between outpatient appointments using the eConsult tool.”
Cliff Wyatt, managing director of HealthCare21, the company who will lead the introduction of MyHealthMonitor in the UK, said: “MyHealthMonitor effectively promotes physician-led self-management, generally thought to assist in timely recognition of symptoms-aggravation and thus contribute to improve patient-centred care.
“It has enjoyed tremendous success in 15 Netherland hospitals, and will provide great opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to build mutually beneficial relationships with UK customers via this latest eHealth tool.”
The benefits of MyHealthMonitor include the ability to track trends and identify problems earlier, leading to potentially improved patient compliance and clinical outcomes.
Doctors can also track the progress of their patients, leading to less frequent – and more productive – outpatient visits.
Telehealth and Telecare Congress
The launch coincides with the King’s Fund’s ‘2012 International Congress on Telecare and Telehealth’ in London this week.
This annual event brings together key speakers from around the world to showcase innovations and best practice in the deployment of telehealth and telecare.
These speakers include Paul Burstow, minister for care services and Dr George Crooks, medical director for NHS 24 and director of the Scottish centre for telehealth and telecare.
These are both key priorities for the government and in January, Burstow said telehealth and telecare would be extended over the next five years to reach three million people.
There are potential health benefits for users using these systems, plus a possible £1.2 billion net efficiency gain over the next five years for a government faced with tough spending decisions.
There is some way to go before this is possible, however: to date, there are only around 5,000 telehealth users and 1.5 million pieces of telecare in use in England.
But the need is apparent: currently 15.4 million in the country have at least one condition which can be managed but not cured, rising to a projected figure of 18 million over the next 20 years.
Ben Adams is the reporter for Pharmafocus and InPharm.com and manages the DigiBlog site. He can be contacted via: email or Twitter.
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