Parijat De
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
Title: Use of an innovative Technology Enabled Care Service (TECS) “FLORENCE†to empower patients and enhance adherence to treatments in diabetes
Biography
Biography: Parijat De
Abstract
In Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, diabetes prevalence is high with a large ethnic minority population. Social deprivation is significant and compliance is a major stumbling block in the achievement of diabetes and Blood Pressure (BP) targets. Given the above, we took the opportunity to become part of the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network Integrated Care Flo Exemplar project via Simple Telehealth/Flo (STH/Flo) mobile phone texting service. Our aims were to improve adherence to BP treatment via engaging patients in their own health through text reminders and regular encouragement, and determine the clinical and cost effectiveness of this simple, yet unique method of virtual clinical consultation.
Since April 2015:
100 patients have enrolled for BP monitoring
26 for blood glucose and insulin reminder
Results:
Medications have been adjusted (added new agent or increased dose) in 27/100 (27%)
46/100 (46%) patients have been discharged with good BP control preventing 107 outpatient appointments (saving £11,663 vs. £2,329 Flo associated costs)
Total savings £9,334
High patient satisfaction & increasing usage
Improved utilisation of manpower resources and healthcare professional time – thus clinically and cost effective model of care delivery recognising the importance of supporting patients outside of face-to-face care to improve outcomes.
Flo’s use continues to grow at SWBHT, 5 new teams are ready to join (Pharmacy, Respiratory, Paediatric Diabetes, Haematology and Occupational Therapy). This simple Telehealth technology can be easily replicated in any NHS Trust or CCG, as has been shown within our own Trust.