NextGen Voice

Alcatel-Lucent, Gen-I, ADHB Intro New Zealand's Healthcare RPM Solution

By Anshu Shrivastava, TMCnet Contributor

The Auckland District Health Board, Gen-i, a member of the Telecom New Zealand (News - Alert) Group, and Alcatel-Lucent have reportedly joined efforts to launch New Zealand’s first trial of a healthcare remote patient monitoring solution using mobile technology to monitor and manage chronic illness at home.

 

The trial is for duration of three months, and focuses on 20 heart disease patients selected by Auckland Hospital. During the trial, the participants are given equipment to take daily measurements.

 

The measurements are automatically transmitted through mobile phone to a secure online database monitored by the ADHB cardiac team, said companies’ officials. And, the equipment also lets patients monitor their own readings.

 

Companies’ officials said that the frequent data collection will enable medical personnel to “quickly” discover changes in health status, and provide “quicker” medical intervention when necessary, and also make “productive” use of face-to-face appointments.

 

Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert) TeleHealth Manager lets patients to provide health data using devices they’re already familiar with such as mobile phones in a secure manner. In addition, it also provides reminders, alerts and online reports, helping patients and their healthcare professionals better understand and manage their conditions, said company officials.

 

“The innovative Telehealth monitoring system could improve health outcomes and enhance patients’ quality of life, while reducing costs and increasing clinical efficiencies for health providers,” said Dr Denis Jury, chief funding and planning officer at Auckland District Health Board, in a statement.

 

Gen-I, a member of the Telecom New Zealand Group, is integrating the project’s delivery technologies, while ADHB is supporting the medical care team with patient care specifications and training.

 

Chris Quin, CEO at Gen-i, said that faced with rapidly increasing numbers of patients with chronic illnesses, the health sector is looking for ways to consolidate specialists’ time and relieve pressure on them.

 

“The Telehealth initiative combats both these issues while also providing positive health outcomes for patients,” Quin said in a statement.

 

Patients and health professionals are likely to be familiar with how to use a mobile phone, and set up and training is straight forward, he said, adding that the process is completed in a matter of seconds, providing near real-time monitoring and response.

 

“Alcatel-Lucent’s work with Gen-i offers the trial patients a secure and reliable remote patient monitoring service that will afford them greater flexibility in the way that they manage their health and recovery,” said Steve Lowe, Head of Alcatel-Lucent’s business in New Zealand, in a statement.

 

ADHB hopes to extend the program to patients with other chronic illnesses like diabetes after the initial trial results have been assessed.

Anshu Shrivastava is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anshu’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Amy Tierney