A remote monitoring programme has helped reduce emergency department attendances by almost 40% in Frimley integrated care system.
The programme, which was first implemented in December 2022, is available to patients in the highest need groups such as those with long-term conditions and frailty.
Analysis of its first 3,673 patients who used the programme showed a 38.6% reduction in emergency department attendances, 53.7% reduction in hospital admissions and 26.7% fewer outpatient appointments.
There was also a fall of 19.4% in GP appointments and 36.9% in calls to NHS 111, alongside a 7.6% reduction in the volume of prescriptions used for the remotely monitored patients.
The analysis, by Strategia and advised by Imperial College, also estimated the reduction in hospital attendance would save the system around £5-8m annually.
Patients were identified for the programme through local population health management tools, which were developed in collaboration with IT provider Graphnet Health.
Those involved were given equipment such as blood pressure monitors and thermometers and could share updates with their digital health team, which included nurses, care navigators and care coordinators.
Sharon Boundy, NHS Frimley transformation director, said: ‘Our secure technology, including shared care records and population health management tools, allow healthcare professionals access to the most accurate and up-to-date information and analysis.
‘We are pleased to share our findings to support this emerging proactive care and remote monitoring model. This allows us to move from a model of care that is reactive and unscheduled towards more proactive and scheduled care.’
Sam Burrows, NHS Frimley chief transformation, delivery and digital officer, added: ‘Our remote monitoring programme enables us to provide patients with timely advice and care when they need it and our residents and professionals report feeling more reassured and satisfied as a result.
‘It is great to see emerging methodology around calculating the savings at a system-wide level and we are keen to spread the learnings and maximise its potential use across the NHS.
‘Our workforce is under immense pressure, but early intervention means we are helping more patients to stay well and reducing unscheduled care.’
A recent Europe-wide consensus survey seeking to identify and address everyday external stressors in emergency departments to improve sustainable working conditions revealed that the highest ratings for negative conditions were for ‘overcrowding’.
A version of this article was originally published by our sister publication Healthcare Leader.
