Home tool helps heart failure patients manage condition

The partnership trial, being run by BT and Wakefield District Community Healthcare Services (WDCHS) − part of NHS Wakefield District − uses an interactive personal health system called the Intel Health Guide.

This allows patients to record important information about their health, including vital signs such as blood pressure, oxygen levels and weight. These can then be sent over the patient’s broadband line for analysis by their community nurse.

The benefit of the system is that nurses can more easily monitor early warning signs that a patient’s health may be deteriorating and proactively respond to their needs. For example, patients with chronic heart failure can experience rapid weight gain over a few days due to water retention if they do not take their medication. The system enables this to be spotted early on so that corrective action can be taken.

The Intel Health Guide, provided and managed by BT, prompts the patient to input information about their health. It also has videoconferencing, which means that the healthcare professional treating the patient can hold a consultation with them from their computer.