NZ’s first telehealth pilot likely to improve health outcomes

The future is looking brighter for people in the Turangi/Taupo area, living with long-term health conditions.

Healthcare of New Zealand, a leader and innovator in community health provision, in conjunction with Lake Taupo Primary Health organisation (PHO) has launched the first-ever New Zealand telehealth pilot for 10 clients in the Turangi/Taupo area.

Telehealth is a home-based service that assists health professionals to closely monitor a client’s medical condition, and detect changes before they become serious and require hospitalisation. 

A funding partnership between the PHO and the Lakes District Health Board (DHB), the PHO’s family nursing team will use the telehealth technology with select clients who have congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and who have frequent hospital admissions.

National integrated care manager for Healthcare of New Zealand, Anton Venter, said that high quality, home-based support would be vital to New Zealand’s ageing population in the future. 

“Services like telehealth reduce people’s need for hospital admission by allowing support teams to pick up any health issues early, and address them before they become serious problems.”

“Long-term conditions such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes have been labeled the health care challenge of this century.  This pilot provides a unique opportunity for us to be part of a potential solution.”

The telehealth monitor is placed in a person’s home and is linked to the internet using the phone line.  Daily measurements such as temperature, blood pressure, weight, lung function and heart rate are taken.  Medical staff access these measurements from their computer on a predetermined basis and decide if a course of action is required.

The one year pilot aims to test the benefits of the telehealth programme, which international trials have shown can reduce hospital admissions, convert emergency department attendances to planned admissions, and even reduce mortality compared to other forms of care.

The pilot’s outcomes will be assessed using an evaluation framework which was independently developed by LECG consultants.  Healthcare of New Zealand will publish the pilot results in two phases - at six months and at the completion of the programme.

The growing need to provide innovative solutions to support chronic care management in the community is also recognised by Chief executive officer of Lake Taupo PHO, Jeremy Mihaka-Dyer.

“Being able to provide effective management of chronic conditions will greatly enhance the lives and health outcomes of the people in our community, particularly Maori who are most vulnerable to these conditions.”

Chief executive of Lakes DHB, Cathy Cooney says, “We are excited by the opportunity to partner with Healthcare of New Zealand and Lake Taupo PHO in this innovative development, for supporting people with chronic conditions in their own home.”

Local doctor Dr Meg Gustafson believes the programme is an exciting new development which has the potential to greatly enhance chronic care management.

“Long-term chronic disease is a growing burden and innovations such as Telehealth provide a great tool for GPs to effectively manage these conditions. What is particularly exciting is the programme enhances patient involvement, empowering them to monitor their condition in a very practical way.”