Virtual care pilot launched for heart failure and frailty patients

Clinicians from North Mid, Whittington Health NHS Trust and Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust (BEH) have come together to trial a new app, Clinitouch, to monitor patients’ health and vital signs virtually.

 

Funded by North Central London Integrated Care Board, Clinitouch is initially being used by eight patients who have been transferred into North Mid’s ‘virtual ward’. Four of these patients have heart failure and four are living with frailty.

 

The patients, who are being monitored by North Mid, BEH and Whittington Health staff, have been given 4G tablet devices, a blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter and thermometer to record their vital signs from the comfort of their homes.

They share answers to health questions related to their condition and readings through the app for analysis. Should these reveal anything concerning, an alert will be sent to their clinical team to intervene straight away. If needed, nurses from BEH, will visit them at home.

 

Clinitouch, developed by digital healthcare technology provider, Spirit Health, will provide real time data insights and give patients a hands-on role in managing their own health. It will not replace existing assessment methods which include telephone and video calls with patients and face-to-face assessments when needed.

 

Designed in partnership with Whittington Health and BEH, North Mid’s virtual ward now has 28 beds and aims to reduce the amount of time patients who are clinically stable but not medically ready to be discharged stay in hospital.

 

Sarah Hayes, chief nurse at North Mid, said: “This new technology will help us ensure that patients who do not need to be in hospital can be cared for at home. It will make a huge difference to staff and patient experience, and we plan to increase the number of patients if the trial is a success.”

Arul Bangalore, Whittington Health’s Lead Matron of the Virtual Ward and Rapid Response Services said, “As clinicians, we make plans for our patients, but this technology, it allows us to really involve the patients in the decision making.

“This technology enables a real partnership with the patient and promotes shared decision-making and patient autonomy. Added to this, research proves time and time again that patients recover better in their own homes. This is a win/win for patients and clinicians!”

 

Helen Brown, chief executive officer at Whittington Health says, “We are delighted to be collaborating with partners across north London in improving patient care and helping to keep patients safely out of hospital over winter. We await to review the results of this trial with a keen interest.”