Transforming patient care using remote monitoring technology

Transforming patient care using remote monitoring technology Isla Health

HIEM has supported the evaluation of Isla Health within two Nottinghamshire trusts. The digital health platform enables remote monitoring and secure visual data sharing within patient records between the patient and health professionals. A shift towards working remotely has resulted in a reduction of unnecessary face to face appointments and increased productivity for healthcare teams.

Isla Health is an alumnus of HIEM’s East Midlands Digital Health Accelerator.

Implementation of Isla at Nottingham Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

The Isla Health platform was piloted within community health services in 2022, focusing on 4 key services across 6 teams: Wound Management within Community Nursing (within 3 areas), Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy, Stroke Rehabilitation and Community Podiatry.

The Challenge

A combination of the ageing population and patients having increasingly complex needs has been linked to increasing pressures on community health services.

England has seen a growth in its population aged older than 65 from 16% to 18% over the past 20 years, with almost 50% more people older than 85. Over the next 25 years, the number of people older than 85 is projected to nearly double from around 1.3 million to 2.6 million.

Nottinghamshire specifically also has a higher proportion of residents aged over 50 (42.3%) compared to England (37.8%), resulting in a higher number of people likely to experience disability and limiting long-term illnesses.

Alongside the ageing population, there is evidence of a rising percentage of patients with complex health needs. The lingering effects of Covid-19 are also impacting community health services.

The solution

Community care services play a critical role in care pathways. They keep people well for longer outside of hospital and enable faster, safer discharges to home. Using remote technology such as Isla allows photos, videos and forms to be securely captured by clinicians and patients to inform triage, diagnosis and remote monitoring. This enabled alternative opportunities to deliver healthcare interventions efficiently and effectively for the trust.

Impact and outcomes

  • Positive feedback from staff: approximately 73% of staff indicated Isla has a positive impact on workload and they would recommend it to other members of staff.
  • The trust has continued to fund the use of Isla Health for use in its community services
  • A positive impact on staff workload in relation to better caseload planning and management. For example, the ability to prioritise appointments and plan sessions and advice to make any in person visits more efficient. Assessments can be done prior to the in-person appointment so that more time during the session can be dedicated to therapy activities.

Implementation of Isla at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Isla Health’s digital platform has been utilised by around 80 clinical teams at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH). Health Innovation East Midlands (HIEM) conducted an evaluation focussed on outpatient clinics across four specialities: Neurology, Dermatology, Allergy, and Burns Care.

The Challenge

The rising number of referrals combined with workforce shortages, are exerting significant pressure on outpatient services at NUH, with impacts for both staff and patients. The increase in the number of outpatient referrals post-pandemic, combined with delivery capacity constraints from the healthcare providers, has resulted in an increasing backlog and longer waiting times for diagnosis and treatment.

The solution

The use of Isla Health within the four specialities has streamlined processes, reduced the need for face-to-face appointments, and improved health care teams’ productivity.

Impact and outcomes

  • Reduced the duration of follow-up appointments, averaging a 22-minute saving per session across all departments and has enabled a significant reduction in patient wait times from referral to treatment by an average of 35 days.
  • Net non-cash releasing benefits of approximately £10,000 per year, indicating a benefit of £1.30 for every £1 spent on the platform.
  • Environmental impact analysis also suggests that Isla's remote review capabilities have led to a reduction of CO2 emissions by an estimated 3,107 kg due to fewer patients travelling to appointments.
  • Staff experiences with Isla have been positive, citing improved clinical decision-making, enhanced patient safety and privacy, and increased staff satisfaction.

Innovation Insights webinar

Find out more about the implementation of Isla Health at NUH as part of a HIEM Innovation Insights webinar.

Listen back 

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