A remote health monitoring scheme has proved there is no place like home after being announced as finalists in the Innovate Awards 2023.
The use of a remote monitoring device (Whzan) to support individualised care in the comfort of your own home, has been selected in the Innovation Spread category.
Whzan monitors oxygen, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, weight, point of care blood tests and provides important information for healthcare professionals when a person becomes unwell. The Whzan blue box is able to produce key health information and a score, which can show if a person’s health is deteriorating.
Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System invested in the device in the early part of the pandemic to enable closer support for the monitoring of care home residents at a distance. The same technology has since been rolled out in the wider community with mental health teams across the areas equipped with over 40 devices to deliver more physical health checks to those with severe mental illness. This has resulted in a 149% increase in the number of checks carried out compared to the number planned.
Dr Ronan Fenton, Medical Director for Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) said: “I am delighted that this initiative is receiving the recognition it rightly deserves. Better, quicker and easier health monitoring means better outcomes for our patients. Thanks to digital monitoring we are helping people with long term conditions such as COPD, asthma, diabetes and heart health. This not only improves the quality of care we are able to provide but saves invaluable staff time as results are logged straight into our clinical systems.”
The entries were of a very high standard with more than 190 entries competing across eleven categories. Judges evaluating the submissions commented on the impressive and inspirational work taking place and they have selected Whzan as one of the best in the category.
The winner will be announced at an award ceremony in London, on 21 September 2023, along with an ‘Innovation Champion of the Year’ selected from all winning entries.