TELUS Health has announced the expansion of its Home Health Monitoring (HHM) solution so that healthcare providers in B.C. can digitally monitor more patients remotely while they recover from COVID-19.
Launched in partnership with the B.C. Ministry of Health, this digital health dashboard allows healthcare providers to track the symptoms and provide medical help for more patients as they recover outside of hospitals in the comfort of their own homes.
“As we face the immense challenge of COVID-19, TELUS Health is committed to working alongside BC’s healthcare leaders to expand the use of technology solutions like Home Health Monitoring to support more British Columbians while recovering at home,” said Darren Entwistle, president and CEO, TELUS.
“By enabling clinicians to remotely observe the vitals of patients with COVID-19, as well as those who are vulnerable to the virus, and provide necessary interventions early, we can reduce exposure and also help to alleviate the pressure in hospital emergency rooms and clinics.”
Accessible through a mobile device, the HHM solution sends daily prompts to the patient to report their biometrics such as temperature, physical symptoms and overall health condition.
Depending on the escalation of their symptoms, some patients may be advised to contact their doctor, or visit their nearest hospital emergency room, while others with improving symptoms may be told to continue recovering and isolating at home.
The system is aligned with the Canadian Centre for Disease Control’s COVID-19 protocols for the monitoring of patients recovering from COVID-19 outside of hospitals.
HHM has been in use in B.C. since 2013 to remotely monitor patients living with chronic conditions such as heart failure, diabetes and respiratory diseases.