The SSSC thanks Pamela Dimberline, Specialist Lead: Digital Health & Care, Digitally Enabled Workforce Team, NHS Education for Scotland for writing all the content below about remote health monitoring.
Introduction
Online services refer to any information and services provided over the internet. You can learn more about the internet by reading these short learning resources:
Goodwill Community Foundation: What is the Internet?
BBC Bitesize: What is the Internet?
MyLearning badge information
MyLearning Badge: SSSC 23 Things TEC – Thing 12: Online Services – Remote health monitoring.
Counts towards the ‘User Provided Technology‘ milestone badge.
Online services
Online services provide the infrastructure where people can use the internet to communicate and share information safely and securely. Remote monitoring is one type of online service where the use of everyday technology, like a mobile phone, tablet or computer, enables people to monitor, record, receive and share information about their health. It supports people to self-manage their health and wellbeing and helps service providers with personalised care, support planning and appropriate treatment.
Advantages of using remote monitoring for people include:
- Less time attending and travelling to appointments
- Better access to services
- Increased confidence and capacity to self-manage long term conditions
- More active and engaged in managing own wellbeing
Advantages of using remote monitoring for health and care services:
- Better availability of data to assist diagnosis and early intervention
- Greater adherence to treatment by patients/citizens
- Provision of care – right time, right place complementing existing services
- Productivity gains resulting from less travel and timely face to face contacts
- Better value for health and care resources
Learning activity 1
- Watch the video below to learn more about remote monitoring. Think about how technology could help the people you support to better manage their health and wellbeing. Make a note of at least three things that apply to your current role, or might apply as your role develops. Please keep this note as you will need to attach it to your MyLearning badge application if you choose to apply for this.
2. Remote monitoring solutions:
There are a number of different technology suppliers who provide solutions for remote monitoring, ensuring information is recorded and shared safely and securely. Within your day to day work you may come across different types of monitoring solutions, however they all provide the same safe and effective service, monitoring people’s health and wellbeing. Two current examples of remote monitoring solution are:
Florence uses mobile phone text messages, sending reminders, advice, tips and questions by text. People respond with their health readings and wellbeing updates by text message. Anyone with a mobile phone can use Florence; they do not need a smartphone or internet access to use this service.
Florence is being used for recording and sharing: heart rate, temperature, weight, medication, blood oxygen, blood glucose, exercise reminders and other areas as they are agreed and set up by practitioners and service providers.
Watch these short Workforce Stories to see how Florence supports people better manage their long term conditions and make notes about how you could apply the information to your role. Attach your notes to your badge application for this ‘thing’.
Podiatry and diabetes management
Inhealthcare also uses text messages but it also offer other ways for people to monitor their health and wellbeing, including use of automate telephone calls, emails, via an app and an online portal. People enrolled on the Inhealthcare service can choose the preferred method of communication that suits them best.
Watch this video to find out more about Inhealthcare
Read the case studies to find out more about using Inhealthcare in care homes.
Do you know that NHS Scotland are widely using text messaging to support people to manage their blood pressure? This is saving people attending unnecessary appointments, while increasing their understanding of their condition and helping them better manage their blood pressure.
Watch this short animation to find out more: NHS Blood Pressure Monitoring
You can also watch this short animation – Fraser’s Story – telling the story of Fraser who is living with high blood pressure, and how is using his mobile phone to send blood pressure readings by text message helping reduce regular trips to his GP to have his blood pressure monitored.
Learning Activity 2
Write a self-reflective account of around 100 words on what you learned and how you feel you can apply this knowledge to your role within social services. Think about how supporting people to use technology to monitor their health and wellbeing could:
- Improve the lives of the people you support.
- Change or improve your workplace practice.