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Jill Riley presented the latest evidence for benefits of telehealth in heart failure. Reference was made to the study, Home telemonitoring in heart failure patients: the HHH study (Home or Hospital in Heart Failure, European Journal of Heart Failure 2009 11(3):312-318; http://eurjhf.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/con
It seems that although hospital admissions are not reduced, there are more scheduled admissions enabling better planning of care. The surprise was an improvement in survival of patients suggesting real benefits. Longer periods of observation are required to fully assess the benefits of telemedicine. Dr. Riley described the experience from their ongoing studies The Home HF (Heart Failure) Study (http://eurjhf.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/ab
Concerns were aired about the uncertainties of patient acceptance of home monitoring and recording information but my experience is that choosing the appropriate patient and providing the appropriate training is not a major hurdle, especially if you make sure there is well informed family support (see latest entry - http://ihsmedical.vpweb.co.uk/Testimonia
Professor John Cleland believes "Telecare will become the preferred method for managing most long-term medical conditions and this revolution may well be as seismic for health care as the industrial revolution was to Western economies 200 years ago. When and how this revolution will occur is not yet clear." (http://eurjhf.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/con
I look forward to the 'tipping point' when this seismic event means patients will have widespread access to telemedicine.
