Leveraging medical technology to tackle an ageing population

During the Committee of Supply debate, the Health Ministry addressed how it plans to leverage technology as the healthcare system evolves to tackle an ageing population. This will augment the healthcare workforce as well as help the elderly proactively manage their conditions from home.

Telecare, for example, has brought healthcare services closer to Singaporeans so that they do not need to travel and queue at the clinics.

THE TELECARE PROGRAMME

It was in 2007 that Mr Shaik Hussein first experienced symptoms of hypertension – a chronic medical condition in which blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.

The 64-year-old started going to a polyclinic in Clementi to manage his condition, in which he saw the doctor about five to seven times a year. However, the frequency of visits to the polyclinic was reduced when he enrolled in a Telecare Programme under the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics in January 2014.

The programme is for patients with stable diabetes mellitus, hypertension or lipid disorders.

Under the programme, Mr Shaik monitors his blood pressure at home on a regular basis. He then submits his readings through an online portal. Once his readings are reviewed by a nurse, he has a tele-consultation with a Care Manager on the management of his condition.

The programme has reduced his clinic visits to two to three times a year.

“I feel like it took a lot of my time,” said Mr Shaik. “Each time when I went to the clinic, I had to take my leave and reschedule my working hours.

“(With the Telecare Programme), I feel like I am in control of my blood pressure; if it is not proper, then I will inform the doctor during my next visit. And I am sure he refers to whatever I have sent to them and tells me I need to check on this and check on that.”

Going forward, the programme hopes to include weight and exercise monitoring for patients.

The system also ensures patient compliance.

“We have patients that, at times, we have to remind them to submit the expected or the required number of readings,” said deputy director of nursing services at the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics Ms Yeo Loo See.

“So, in the system there are reminders that will remind the patient if they have not submitted enough readings. Leveraging this technology makes it convenient for the patients and healthcare providers,” she added.

COMMUNITY-BASED LABORATORY 

Healthcare researcher Professor David Bruce Matchar, director of the Program in Health Services & Systems Research at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, also cautioned that while there are various types of technology available, it is important to address how they fit into health services to improve outcomes, and suggested the setting up of a community-based laboratory.

Prof Matchar said: “Singapore offers a lot of unique opportunities to evaluate technologies in real-life settings. We have the Housing Development Board housing, we have got Senior Activity Centres with their voluntary welfare organisations working in community settings that developed good social capital with communities and offer potential laboratories to start to understand how to link up with clinical provider groups, as well as how to use community health workers effectively and how to bring technology into that mix.”

Experts agree that technology can be used as a tool to help make the healthcare system work better, but should not be seen as a solution or remedy for all healthcare problems. Beyond technology, researchers said that what is also missing is a funding stream for them to do community-based work.

– CNA/ek

Category: Features, Technology & Devices