Digital home follow-up (DHO) means that patients are followed up remotely and report on their physical and mental health themselves. The benefits are many, both for patients, who can spend more time at home, and for relatives, who can feel confident that their loved ones are receiving good follow-up. For healthcare professionals, the benefits include a better overview and the opportunity to prioritize those who need follow-up.
More elderly people with complex medical conditions put increased pressure on the healthcare system. At the same time, resources are becoming scarce, both in the form of lower budgets and reduced access to qualified healthcare professionals. In addition, we know that many people spend unnecessary time in hospitals or at the doctor's office to take simple measurements or to tell how they are feeling.
Many people find it an extra burden when they have to leave home, go to the doctor and spend unnecessary time and effort when they could do exactly the same thing from home. That's why healthcare services need to offer smarter solutions and make better use of resources.
SEVERAL BENEFITS OF DIGITAL HOME MONITORING: Synne Try Gumpen, Product Manager for TelluVisit, talks about the positive effects of the technology.
- "Many patients can actually get sicker from traveling to a consultation with a doctor or hospital. This is especially true for those with long distances to travel and those with variable diurnal patterns. Patients with COPD, for example, may feel ill if they have to go out in cold weather or spend energy on transportation," explains Synne Try Gumpen, Product Manager for TelluVisit.
With digital home monitoring, several benefits can be achieved. Firstly, the data collected about the patient can be analyzed and contribute to proactive follow-up of the patients. Patients report and submit health data that can, for example, indicate signs of potential deterioration. For example, this could be information about blood pressure, weight and blood sugar. The insight provides important information that frees up resources and ensures better individual follow-up.
In addition, many people take greater ownership when they have to actively monitor their own health, and overall receive better follow-up when their health is measured more frequently. Of course, those who need physical follow-up still receive good follow-up from healthcare professionals.
Patients report a high level of satisfaction, and many state that they prefer to use digital follow-up rather than physical meetings, according to a patient survey conducted by Tellu in collaboration with Sintef and Bodø municipality in winter 2023.
- The survey from Bodø shows that a very high proportion actually prefer digital home follow-up to physical meetings. "Patients say that they feel safe knowing that healthcare professionals are looking after them and will contact them if necessary," says Try Gumpen.
Read also:The Norwegian Directorate of Health recommends increased use of digital home follow-up.
Recommended for the chronically ill and those in need of regular follow-up
Patients with chronic illnesses and those who need regular follow-up find that life becomes easier when they can submit results and receive good medical follow-up with digital aids. This applies in particular to those who have a medium to high risk of deterioration in their state of health, and who have an increased risk of increased need for health and care services.
Read more: The hospital is perceived as closer
Every year, many patients spend an unnecessary number of days in Norwegian hospitals. This costs us a lot in terms of dollars and cents, blocks beds and leads to a greater burden on patients who would prefer to go home. The reasons are complex, but increased use of health technology will free up resources in the healthcare system and at the same time give patients a better everyday life.
- The Norwegian healthcare system is in a situation where we have limited resources, and the healthcare system will be put under even greater pressure in the future. That's why it's so important that more municipalities get started with measures that free up healthcare professionals so that expertise can be used where it's needed. For this reason, digital home follow-up is one of many important contributions to solving the challenges in the Norwegian healthcare system.