Telehealth Site For Health And Social Care Staff Set To Save Millions

(I-Newswire) September 1, 2010 - The Technology Strategy Board’s CEO Iain Gray has officially launched a new telehealth application at Coventry University’s Health Design Technology Institute, which will help GPs, local authorities and healthcare providers avoid pricey commissioning mistakes and improve the lives of more than 17 million people in the UK.

By saving the cost of days of research and by sharing best practice, the comprehensive product comparison website from assisted living specialists Alvolution, a division of MedilinkWM, helps professionals choose multi-functional telehealth and telecare products that will save the NHS millions.

Developed in partnership with NHS West Midlands and the Joint Improvement Partnership, the independent and unbiased comparison website empowers care professionals to quickly identify the most effective technologies for their patients, saving time and ensuring best value. Users will be able to compare and review a huge range of technologies on the UK's largest and most up-to-date database of electronic assisted living products.

One early adoptor, Jim Ellam, Assistive Technology Project Lead, Prevention and Independence Team, Joint Commissioning Unit, Staffordshire County Council said: “In such a fast-moving market, it is essential that those of us in public healthcare set new standards of best practice and promote these technologies internally and externally.

“From sustainability to mobility, memory aid to medicines compliance, the many functions a single device can fulfil has the potential to help the NHS and the councils, improve care while saving costs. We have to be able to inform the public, share our product expertise with our colleagues and fellow professionals and recommend solutions.”

Sharon Ross, Telehealthcare Project Manager at NHS Telford and Wrekin added: “As the population ages, Telehealth will expand rapidly, so the Telehealth technology finder has massive potential. Getting product information at a single click, using one icon is just invaluable.

“By using this single repository, we can refer products on to commissioning teams, clinicians and community workers with real confidence. The information it provides is independent and non-commercial so it can be relied upon to be credible. Gone are the hours of horizon scanning on Google!”

Alvolution's manager Rob Chesters explains: “With more than 17 million people in the UK with a chronic disease or long-term condition, telehealth has a big role to play in the way we are treated in the future. By keeping patients and the elderly out of surgeries, hospitals and carehomes, telehealth systems can improve our quality of life and save local authorities and the NHS, millions of pounds.

“But with so many technologies, capabilities and functionalities, keeping abreast of all developments can prove impossible. That's why a website which enables professionals to share knowledge and access accurate, impartial reviews of technology is being so eagerly embraced. This application answers the most important questions. What is available? What does it do? Where can we go? How does it compare? Is it recommended? And that information is available to everyone within an organisation – greatly enhancing internal communication.”

This professional tool can be used to signpost users to all the technologies that are available to meet their needs. User friendly, it helps with both specific need-generated enquiries and more general welfare searches. Searchable by condition, by scenario, or by technology, a range of options is presented, clearly highlighting product uses and benefits.

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