1. WEARABLE MOBILE TECHNOLOGY FOR HEALTHCARE:
THE EVOLUTION OF TELEMEDIS™
A CELLULAR-BASED MOBILE-HEALTH SYSTEM IN SWEDEN
O. Atzmon*, D. Shklarski*, S. Jonsson**, R. Nabiev** and H. Teriö**
* Tadiran Spectralink Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel
** Biomedical Engineering, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
oatzmon@tadspec.com
Abstract: TeleMedIS is a new e-Health system for
remote monitoring of patients, which will be
evaluated in Karolinska University Hospital,
Huddinge. The system consists of: TMW
(Telemedicine Monitoring Wristwatch), a personal
wireless wrist-wearable remote monitoring device,
developed by Tadiran Spectralink (Israel);
Telemedicine Home-Care Platform (TeleMed HC
Platform), which is a platform for remote
management and support of biomedical equipments
located in patients' homes, and established in the
Biomedical Engineering Department at Karolinska
University Hospital, and Wireless Network
infrastructure provided by TeliaSonera Sweden AB.
The project will evaluate and investigate the possible
deployment and commercialization of TeleMedIS
solution in the swedish healthcare sector.
Introduction
The healthcare industry is undergoing significant
changes. e-Health is becoming increasingly important
and is being considered as an answer to the rising costs
of healthcare, the ageing of the population and the
increasing demand for high quality healthcare.
TeleMedIS™ is a new e-Health system for remote
monitoring of patients , which will be evaluated in
Karolinska, Stockholm. The system consists of: TMW
(Telemedicine Monitoring Wristwatch), a personal
wireless wrist-wearable remote monitoring device,
developed by Tadiran Spectralink (Israel); Telemedicine
Home-Care Platform (TeleMed HC Platform), which is
a software platform established in the Biomedical
Engineering Department at Karolinska University
Hospital, and Wireless Network infrastructure provided
by TeliaSonera Sweden AB.
Materials and Methods
TeleMedIS™ enables continuous monitoring of vital
signs of patients, such as pulse rate, 1-lead ECG, and
blood oxygen saturation level (SpO2) with real-time
cellular communications, using its built-in embedded
cellular engine, transmitting medical date, receiving
medical advice and conducting two-way voice-based
consultation with a remote medical professional.
Patients can be monitored from anywhere, in their
homes, at work or during traveling.
Results
TeleMedIS™ is currently being integrated into the
Biomedical Engineering Department’s infrastructure,
and going through engineering, clinical and usability
trials, in order to evaluate its acceptance and benefits.
The system holds the potential for improved care, cost
savings and effective use of limited resources in the
Swedish healthcare system. In the future it could be
integrated with Sjunet, the Swedish national health
information network.
Discussion
The presentation will discuss the systems' features, the
trials program, the expected outcomes and the potential
benefits for patients, physicians, administrators and
other stakeholders, as well as future research which will
be needed for exploiting the systems benefits and its
influence on future health delivery methods.