Using Telecare as an option of keeping people out of Hospitals and Care Homes

by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank my supervisors, friends and family, without their support this research study would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I adjudge that the entire content of this dissertation is entirely my own work; the content used in this dissertation has not been submitted before in any educational institution and represents my own opinion.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research study is to examine to what extent the telecare can reduce care service provision cost and explore its implications for management in Tunstall Healthcare Group. The main theme of this particular research study is to examine the utilization of telecare as an option for keeping people out of hospitals and care homes. For this particular research study Tunstall Healthcare Group is selected. The practices of Tunstall Healthcare Group has been analyze in this research study. Tunstall Healthcare Group is the world's leading provider of telecare solutions. Operating in more than 30 countries and employing over 1000 people, Tunstall supports 2.5m people around the world. Telecare is basically a technological based care system which is quite effective for healthcare practitioner and the patients. Telecare is the provision of health and social care to people in their homes. Telecare uses community-supported devices brought about by the information technology and communication. Telecare has been utilized by a number of health care practitioners in order to offer health services and health trainings. The findings of this research study indicate that medicals professionals are much aware about telecare. The implementation of telecare is a success when the level of technical skills of caregivers coincides with which required to operate the equipment (or if caregivers were trained to reach that level). Most of the medical professionals are concerned about security and accuracy aspects of telecare. There is a need to make an effort in order to provide a comprehensive solution to these IT concerns. The implementation of telecare, tele-rehabilitation or medical data collection without having to go to the health centre or hospital is already a significant and very positive in the life situation of patients. In this case the conclusion is clear, patients crave the wider adoption of these services, and the value is clear and is an improvement of the management of health and activity of their own medical situation of citizens.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER # 1: TO EXPLORE THE HISTORY AND RATIONAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TELECARE POLICY IN THE UK1

History and Rationale of Telecare in the UK1

Rise in Health and Social Care Cost in the UK2

Government Commitment and Policy4

CHAPTER # 2: EXPLORE DIFFERENT MODELS OF THE USE OF TELECARE IN THE UK SUPPORTED HOUSING5

UK and Telecare5

The Whole Systems Demonstrator program (WSD) of the Department of Health, United Kingdom6

Different Models10

Managing Telecare services in UK14

Summary17

CHAPTER # 3: EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TELECARE AND HOW IT SAVES COST19

Evaluation of Telecare19

Costs20

Medical Problem Solving Research23

Significance of Telecare services in UK26

Efficient Use of Provider and Patient Time27

Heart Failure (HF) Disease Management28

Implementation of telecare33

Summary34

CHAPTER # 4: TO ...