Smart care solutions are more efficient, achieve more with less input and allow for a more seamless and interconnected experience for both care providers and care receivers. These smart care solutions are being available and ready to implement today. Any care provider could consider the direct transition to smart care from solutions based on an analogue platform, instead of opting for a digital solution as a step on the way.
With the complete analogue switch- off taking place in 2025 in the United Kingdom, making the necessary preparations today can make the transition from analogue platforms as smooth as possible.
At a glance, the heart of smart healthcare is the use of data and information to augment and leverage traditional uses of devices, allowing for a more synergistic approach and experience for the users. In healthcare, the smart utilisation of data can assist in medical diagnosis, and even predict and prevent future health events such as e.g. falls among the elderly.
Again, the role of open API (application programming interface) is also integral in smart care, as it allows, for a more synergistic approach in augmenting existing services. Simply put, the open APIs are application programming interfaces made available to software developers, which will provide them with access to proprietary software applications.
Read more: The Benefits of Open API and Smart Healthcare Technology
Today, plenty of smart devices and solutions for the elderly are already available on the
market:
Smart incontinence sensors – these sensors are placed outside the incontinence pads and can accurately monitor the saturation levels. While this may sound simple, this reliable solution has multiple benefits for both the patient and the care provider. Accurate monitoring means ulcers can be prevented, unnecessary inspections can be avoided and bed sheets need to be changed less. A bonus could also be cost benefits.
Fall detection and fall prevention radars – these discrete, accurate sensors can monitor movement without image capturing – eliminating privacy concerns for the users. These solutions are implemented within a system and can immediately transmit alarm calls to responders in the event of a fall or an emergency.
Smart medication robots – these devices help patients with the exact schedule of their medicine intake, which is especially useful for those with multiple prescriptions that need to be taken at different times during the day. This example is an important solution since a significant number of deaths in Europe are attributed to poor adherence to medication intake. Mentioned above are just some of the solutions available today and new products for specific problems are expected to be
introduced in the near future, given today’s rapid technological advancements.
As covered earlier, the utilisation of data is integral in smart care. Smart solutions place an important emphasis on devices and being interconnected, and the use of data presents practically unlimited possibilities in smart systems. This means that the data collected from the users can be applied to create a much more customised approach that suits the specific needs of each individual user.
Anytime, anywhere care is also one of the concepts in the care and alarm industry. Through distributed alarm handling, anyone in the alarm system, including relatives of the patient, care workers or response centres can always access, handle and escalate alarm events. This allows responders to immediately attend to an emergency.
Cloud-based alarm management platforms are built with scalability and interoperability in mind. These platforms are future-proof, allowing the users to easily and seamlessly integrate new devices and solutions to the platform. The cloud-based platform of Skyresponse also allows the platform to
simultaneously handle an unlimited number of alarms. Without delay, the platform can dynamically adjust its resources to complete the task.
According to a report by Berg Insight in 2019, 70% of the telecare in Europe is still using analogue platforms. The Nordic countries, however, have transitioned straight into smart care, instead of having to go through digital solutions. Other countries in Europe can follow this route as well, especially with modern alarm management platforms available today. Next-generation solutions are being introduced fast and adopting these can be beneficial since they also provide long term cost-saving benefits, as compared to digital telecare solutions, which – on their own – do not necessarily provide any cost savings.
Through a capable platform, solutions providers in European countries lagging behind can easily catch up to modern systems. This can allow them to take advantage of solutions available today, while slowly transitioning out of old, outdated analogue systems that will soon be rendered useless.
Read more: The Effects and Benefits of Transitioning from Analogue to Digital Telecare Solutions
Given the benefits of transitioning straight into smart care solutions, partnering with a capable platform provider is crucial in making the transition as seamless as possible. The Skyresponse platform is 100% cloud-based, future-proof and scalable. This allows solutions providers to easily integrate modern smart care solutions as well as upcoming products into their existing platforms, allowing for a smooth transition from analogue platforms.