Remote Patient Monitoring in Europe

Homecare for the aged and the chronically ill, two rapidly expanding population segments, are underlining the immense potential of remote patient monitoring as a means of delivering cost-effective, high-quality healthcare in Europe, according to a new report from Frost & Sullivan (Palo Alto, CA, USA).

Nearly half of the hospital beds in Europe are occupied by patients suffering from chronic illnesses, many of whom require continuous monitoring. This is increasing pressure on Europe's already overstrained healthcare facilities and leading to spiraling healthcare expenditures.

Remote monitoring of chronically ill patients will significantly reduce costs incurred on hospital stays and shorten waiting times for doctor appointments--a rampant problem in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, thereby promoting its appeal. A key challenge is the refusal of governments to reimburse remote monitoring of patient populations. However, there are indications in the United Kingdom and Germany that remote monitoring is likely to come under the reimbursement bracket in the near future.

Target patients for remote monitoring include those suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF), diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Other major population groups that could potentially use remote monitoring systems include asthmatics, patients requiring post-operative care, those suffering from trauma, those receiving wound management, as well as patients in need of mental health monitoring and people suffering from hypertension. Remote care could also help monitor the elderly, those with weight management problems, and pregnant women.

"The only means to tackle anticipated increases in healthcare expenditures is the introduction of systems such as remote monitoring,” states Aarati Ajay, senior research analyst with Frost & Sullivan. "These systems ensure that patients are well taken care of in such a manner that the necessity of meeting doctors is minimized, either by proper disease management or by regular remote monitoring of the patient.”




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