Telehealth & Telecare

The Yorkshire & Humber HIEC Long Term Conditions (LTCs) team have focussed on telehealth solutions as one of their major themes and they have produced a range of resources for people with different levels of interest and knowledge about telehealth. In summary, you can find the following resources by visiting their website:

• 'Introducing Telehealth at Scale and Pace: A Development Resource for Telehealth Pioneers'
  Described as a "telehealth implementation resource ... designed to support emergent commissioners, provider organizations and individuals to access the information required to introduce new technology-enabled service models for people with long term conditions".
   
• 'An Introduction to Telecare and Telehealth'
  "An e-learning starter package available free to anyone working or studying in the health and social care sectors in Yorkshire and the Humber who would like to know more about Telehealth and Telecare and the opportunities they present. Teleconsultation is explained in more detail along with how it fits within Telehealth."
   
• 'Teleconsultation workbook'
  An easy to use 'how to' guide designed for managers and clinicians to increase understanding, set out the benefits and lead step by step implementations of new service models incorporating assistive technology. The easy read style and jargon-free content should also appeal to users and carers who want both bite size and comprehensive information on this emerging and important subject."

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The Department of Health (DH) believes that at least three million people with long term conditions and/or social care needs could benefit from the use of telehealth and telecare services. This is based on the results of one of the largest randomised controlled trials of telecare and telehealth services involving over 6000 people across three sites in the UK. The trial is known as the Whole System Demonstrator and headline findings show:

• A 15% reduction in A&E visits
• A 20% reduction in emergency admissions
• A 14% reduction in elective admissions
• A 45% reduction in mortality rates

To read a press release on 3 million lives please click here.

To visit the 3 million lives website please click here.

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