And to ensure that it is affordable. That is the purpose of housing association Helpt Elkander, Exser and Close the Gap in a landmark project in Nuenen and Eersel.
Visual contact
The project is called Live Video Care, a telemedicine application (eHealth). By means of a PC and a webcam caregivers can have visual contact with their patients and assist them in their exercises and/or diet. The services are meant for those people living at home for whom regular exercise is essential for improving their clinical perspective: patients with obesity, diabetes or heart failure. Dieticians, physiotherapists, medical specialists and general practitioners are actively involved in this project.
Behaviourial change
Live Video Care allows caregivers to advise, diagnose, treat and counsel one or more patients at home at the same time, from their own practice or from the hospital. The clients only needs an internet connection, PC and webcam. The focus of this project is not on the technological development, but on the implementation of the technology. The technology is readily available but its use requires a behavioural change.
Procedure
By bringing Live Video Care into practice and to devising a method for, for example, physiotherapists and general practitioners, the project partners want to find out how to achieve this behavioural change. How to schedule online appointments and how to include this in a treatment plan? Telecare is not a substitute for regular care, but an effective supplement. Physical contact with e.g. a general practitioner will remain necessary for many illnesses. But when video contact is possible, it can save time and money.
Welfare state
In orde to create a solid business plan, there are contacts with insurers. The welfare state as we know today, will be financially unsustainable. According to the project partners, this outcome of this project provides part of the solution on how care can be better organized and afforded.
Implementation
Both the patient target group as well as health care providers and health insurers are working towards a plan to deploy Live Video Care. Companies providing technology are also involved, so that the system will be as accessible and easy as possible. The results should be in late July 2011. If successful, this form of care will be further spread out across Noord-Brabant and the rest of the Netherlands.
Partners: Exser, National Center for service innovation), Close the Gap BV and housing association Helpt Elkander