CEO Blog
This is the blog of the TSA Chief Executive, Trevor Single. Trevor will be informing you of the various goings on regarding the TSA, as well as any issues facing the telecare and telehealth industry.
8 March 2012
I have been at the Kings Fund congress for the last three days – but the main information has been kept back until today when Professor Stan Newman presented further details on the outcome of the Whole System Demonstrator project.
He explained that the telehealth details will continue to be released over a period of time, and that the first of the telecare results will start coming through shortly. This was good to hear, as while the telehealth results have been positive, we want to also get an insight into the telecare ones.
A key outcome from the telehealth results is that there was no difference on quality of life outcomes. For some this may be a disappointment, but it is actually a positive as it shows that the use of technology does not have a negative impact on quality of life – which had been the concern / view from some quarters!
There have already been comments about Stan’s statement that telehealth is a disruptive technology. This has been picked up by critics of telehealth as a negative. But actually it is making clear that using technology properly as an enabler for health and social care will require changes to the organisational structure and business delivery model. It is not an add on to existing methods.
Stan stressed that telehealth was not for everyone. Again critics see this as a negative, but it is just stating the obvious. Not everyone will be suitable, or want to use the technology. But that should not prevent its adoption and utilisation for the potentially millions of users who would welcome and benefit from it. Not everyone likes using the train but let’s not use that as a reason for not running a train service!
Interesting to hear from Stan that the main reasons potential users declined telehealth was:
- perceptions of self care
- view on technology
- expectations and experiences of change - perception that it is about saving money, rather than better care.
This was countered to some extent but those people who kept the kit not regarding it as a substitution for other forms of care.
The main recommendations on main streaming telehealth, as presented by Stan, were:
- be clear about objectives and timelines for realisation
- plan and manage the organisational changes
- engage professionals in the process
- training programme essential
- present advantages to participants
- potentially select / screen who to put onto Telehealth
- be clear if and when cost savings will be realised.
Stephen Johnson from DH followed the presentation by Stan and summarised the results as telling us - better quality of care, lower mortality rates, reduced hospital admissions. Also that it busted the myth of lower quality of life as a result of isolation. Patients on the whole like this type of intervention.
3millionlives is the next step on this journey.
I saw lots of interest in 3millionlives at Kings Fund and the role that TSA and the other trade bodies will play. It is certainly the top priority for TSA and its members.
Best Regards
Trevor Single
