Patient outreach solution launched for LTCs
- 29 March 2007
A new system designed to help the management of long term conditions (LTCs) has been launched by Clinical Solutions.
The system is Clinical Solution’s first for supporting the treatment of LTCs and the company hopes it will help to transform the way patients are cared for by health services in Europe.
Clinical Solutions’ global sales and marketing director, Richard Craven, told E-Health Insider Primary Care: “In the UK, there are an estimated 17.5 million people with one or more long term conditions. These patients account for 80% of all GP consultations and 60% of hospital bed stays. As the population ages, health care service providers are going to see an increase in these figures.
“In response, Clinical Solutions has developed a patient outreach solution based on our world class medical technology. It allows clinicians to support and advise patients without the need for unnecessary, time-consuming and expensive appointments.”
The system works on a software platform that can be installed on any desktop. Once in place it can be used to store data on individual patients including their demographics, measurements, lifestyle and any social support they are receiving.
Advanced features include a call log, the ability to view graphs of a patient’s illness history and the ability to collect and collate data on a patient’s symptoms, medication history and care plans.
Craven added: “The long term conditions management solution combines clinical expertise with telephone communications and tailored software. It gives patients autonomy over their care by educating and supporting them through a tailored programme designed to help them manage their specific condition.
“With the expert input of the clinician, patients help to structure their own care plan, increasing their chances of success. Clinicians provide reassurance and reinforcement through regular telephone contact. By linking with telehealth or telecare monitors, the clinician can receive accurate feedback and monitor progress alongside the patient.”
The system will link with Clinical Solution’s existing triage products used by many out-of-hours providers and the NHS information and advice line, NHS Direct.
Clinical Solution’s chief executive officer, David Baker, told EHIPC: “Ideally, we would like to see this solution used by NHS trusts which can link the system with calls made by one of their patients to NHS Direct. This would help ensure a complete medical history was available, creating a perfect way of managing long term conditions, which could potentially be life threatening.”
Baker also told EHIPC that Clinical Solutions were in discussions with telehealth vendors to try and link the system to existing telehealth monitoring centres and providing one unique record, which can be integrated with other systems.
Clinical Solution’s director of nursing, Jackie Rice-Haga said: “We must acknowledge the fact that there is an ageing population around the world that will require ongoing care. Within health services globally, there is an increasing need to use existing resources in the most appropriate way. This system utilises primary care givers’ time more effectively to empower patients with long term conditions to take more responsibility for how they look after themselves.”
The product can also be linked to an internal knowledge management system so that services can be co-ordinated and eventually linked to QoF scores for GPs.
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