Telehealth and Diabetes
Telehealth is the provision of health related services by telecommunications
Telehealth relates to the use of telecommunications such as telephone and shared data downloads to assist patients.
More and more PCTs are using technological tools that help their healthcare teams keep tabs on and keep in touch with patients via telephone and shared data downloads. The technology saves time and money by avoiding visits to hospitals, clinics and GPs surgeries.
It can even lead to greater compliance by patients whereby they stick to their advised healthcare regime.
Does Telehealth work for people with diabetes?
The reason why telehealth can be such a boon to diabetes management is down to the nature of the condition - it’s with you always and does not go away. Having a half-hour appointment three times a year with a member of your healthcare support team seems entirely out of proportion to the level of engagement the condition often demands from the patient.
In all public services - health and social services included, one eye must be kept on the future. Consideration is always given to how best to deliver services while being economically effective.
Looking forward, accessibility is core to this.
Not everyone has internet access nor an email address, but most have access to a telephone. On basic level, picking up the phone to get help or advice is telehealth at work.
Telehealth and NHS Direct
When NHS Direct first started up there was considerable doubt among the general population that an individual’s health could be handled appropriately on the phone.
However, the service is becoming much more widely used as its reputation grows as a solid resource for good advice. People need not go and sit in a waiting room full of other ill persons, they can save time and money on transport and still speak to a professional who can guide them as to next steps to take.
Third party intervention
Nick Gwynne, who has type 1 diabetes, has had need of what gets called ‘third party intervention’ - in other words he has had a hypo that has left him unable to sort it out by himself and someone else has had to get involved.
He says, “My wife has more than once had to call the NHS helpline when I’ve had a hypo and literally could not help myself. They talked her through doing a blood test on me and administering warm milk with lots of sugar in it. They stayed on the line to her until they were happy with my blood test result. They were very good and it’s helped us both to think that we can get help if we need it just by using the phone.”
Many factors come in to play when it comes to using technology - different generations feel comfortable with certain forms of contact.
Management by internet and email
Arguably anyone can use a phone, but then there’s those modern-age boons, the internet and email. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, but they are increasingly coming into their own.
James Sheldon lives in Salford and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 20 years ago has been doing blood tests twice a day for the last seven or eight years.
He says, “My GP suggested that I use email and it suits us both. It’s a lot easier than having to go into the surgery. I send monthly results from my blood test meter and if I have a problem I know I can email him too. So far I’ve not really had a problem, it’s more been something that I’ve been curious about as regards my control. If we think that the email is not the right way to have a discussion then I go in and see him. I think this has certainly helped my control and I’m totally at east with using email like this for my health.”
That’s not to say that at any point should ‘face time’ be necessary, it can be had. With fewer people (in theory) being in surgery or clinic, then personal time with patients might be gained in a less frantic environment.
