The Telehealth Team consist of Telehealth Care Support Workers, Nurses and a Clinical Lead, who work with patients diagnosed with a long term condition to help them monitor, manage and control their own health.
Long Term conditions include HBP, Diabetes, COPD and heart problems that need to be managed carefully to avoid periods of illness and unnecessary hospital visits and admissions.
Telehealth
This service is patient centred based on personal health needs. Some patients have simple needs and can be offered simple Telehealth. This includes questionnaires and SMS text based technology known as “Florence” or “Flo”, for patients to take their health readings using their own mobile phone.
Using Florence, patients can take and send their own readings as and when needed. The readings, for example pulse rate, blood pressure, weight or blood sugar go the centre where they are automatically logged and checked by a health professional. If there is any cause for concern the patient will be contacted and given advice accordingly, including advice on taking medication and home visits when needed.
The Telehealth Team role involves working with other members of the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) to identify patients that can be discharged home early with minimal risks, to be monitored and supported in the community.
With the patient, they will consider the options available to meet their needs when they go home. If the patient agrees to use the service, the team help facilitate a smooth patient discharge from hospital support to home telehealth support and agree with the patients how the service can help them keep well and manage their condition when they get back home.
Patients can take and send their own readings as and when needed. The readings, for example pulse rate, blood pressure, weight or blood sugar go the centre where they are automatically logged and checked by a health professional. If there is any cause for concern the patient will be contacted and given advice accordingly, including advice on taking medication.