The New Business Model for Ambulatory Monitoring of Patients Suffering from Congestive Heart Failure sought to develop an ICT-based business model for the long-term, outpatient treatment of chronically ill individuals. Remotely monitoring up to 130 patients led to a 62% reduction in hospital admissions and a 69% decrease in the total number of days spent in hospital.
- 23 July 2010
Doctors could instantly see any danger signs like accumulating fluids in the lungs or irregular heart rhythms, and intervene quickly.
General practitioners, a telemedicine centre, health insurers, technology and technical service suppliers joined forces in this innovative telemedicine project. The new business model cut the length of hospital days and associated health care costs whilst increasing the standard of health care and quality of life for patients and their families.
Little effort for huge rewards
The project targeted individuals suffering from congestive heart failure, a potentially life-threatening condition when the heart cannot adequately supply the body with blood. Patients spent about 15 minutes daily checking their heart rate and other vital signs via an easy-to-use device that directly transmitted the data to a regional telemedicine centre.
A personal touch
The project was conceived and overseen by getemed Medizin- und Informationstechnik AG, a German medical device manufacturer, working with several partners in the region.
The project put a strong emphasis on personal contact between patients and doctors – by involving general practitioners and by insisting that the telemedicine centre be located within the region. Personal contact is especially important to elderly people and helps increase patient compliance and acceptance of the scheme.
Besides getemed, key partners included the telemedicine centre in Brandenburg Havel (TMZB), which provided the essential medical knowledge and analysed the incoming data on a daily basis; Jonas Medizintechnik, which installed the equipment in patients’ homes and provided training; the AOK Brandenburg health insurer; various general practitioners; and of course the patients who volunteered.
The project achieved all its objectives, and helped getemed improve its products as well as streamline the business model. It has also inspired several related follow-up projects, all with telemedical or ambient assisted living themes.