Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has been using remote monitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary patients (COPD) patients since an initial pilot project in 2009. This ongoing, innovative project has continued to receive excellent patient feedback and has improved the quality of life for patients, reducing hospital visits and call outs and improved overall patient outcomes.
Background to remote monitoring project
With mounting pressure on healthcare services, particularly for patients with chronic long-term conditions (LTCs) such as COPD, the success of this long-term project demonstrates the need for innovative, scalable solutions with demonstrable benefits for patients.
Remote monitoring has become a vital tool in addressing the increasing demand for GP and hospital appointments in Inverclyde and is providing a proactive and patient-centered approach to chronic disease management.
The team at Inverclyde HSCP has been using Docobo Remote Patient Monitoring from Graphnet since 2009, in order to monitor patients living with COPD from their own homes. Docobo Remote Patient Monitoring from Graphnet supports healthcare professionals to proactively and efficiently monitor health conditions while providing needs-led and person-centred care. Remote monitoring can be used in the community, in care homes and in people’s homes and is proven to improve outcomes for COPD patients across Inverclyde.
The Inverclyde Digital Health Service provides COPD patients with 24/7 access to clinical support. This constant availability means patients no longer need to rely solely on GP surgeries or emergency services for assistance.
The project has achieved excellent results, including a reduction in 80% of hospital admissions for COPD. How remote monitoring works in Inverclyde for COPD Patients
Patients are referred to the COPD remote monitoring via Inverclyde HSCP.
Once set up on the system, patients at Inverclyde are given tablets – or use their own devices – to enable them to take regular checks of their vital signs, such as oxygen levels, heart rate and blood pressure. These readings are securely logged and transmitted to clinicians at a clinical hub for triage, enabling early escalation and intervention and helping to manage deterioration.
These readings are securely logged and transmitted to clinicians at a central hub for review.
Alerts from the system are displayed using a traffic light system to prioritise cases, with red alerts indicating the highest severity. Red alerts are typically addressed within two hours, but the team prioritises COPD-related alerts to ensure a faster response when urgent care is needed.
BENEFITS AND STATS
Patients who have been using the solution say:
“It’s like having a live in nurse, it makes me feel safe.”
“I have the app installed on my phone, and now I can go and visit my daughter in England”
A clinician who has been using the solution says:
"Remote monitoring can be beneficial to patients by helping them better understand and self-manage their condition and increasing their awareness and confidence. It can provide reassurance that a healthcare professional is monitoring the patient's condition, and any potential concerns will be picked up in a timely manner".
The project has achieved excellent results, including:
Results 2023 - 2024
80% reduction in COPD admissions
81% reduction of A&E attendances without admission
64.3% Reduction in number of bed days
Results 2019
64% Reduction in Admissions to IRH
71% Reduction in the No of Bed days required.
Neil Cree, Team Lead, Adult Community Nursing and Asylum Health Community Team at Inverclyde HSCP has led the project since 2012 and says:
‘This project has been a game-changer for COPD patients in Inverclyde. By working collaboratively with a trusted technology provider, we’ve been able to deliver proactive, person-centred care that truly makes a difference – and has done since 2009. Remote monitoring has reduced hospital visits, improved patient outcomes, and provided peace of mind for both patients and healthcare professionals. It’s a fantastic example of how innovation can transform healthcare delivery. By reducing the burden on services and empowering patients to take an active role in their own care, this initiative has set the standard for supporting those with long-term conditions."
Donna Barr is Integrated Technology Enabled Care Co-Ordinator at Inverclyde HSCP and says:
"The success of this project shows how using digital health solutions can transform patient care. Our long term partnership with Graphnet and Docobo has enabled us to provide round-the-clock support to COPD patients, ensuring early intervention and reducing pressure on frontline services. It’s exciting to see how technology continues to evolve, and we look forward to expanding remote monitoring even further to enhance patient care across Inverclyde."
Futures
Care homes in the area will be piloting remote monitoring, and video call functionality will be integrated into the solution so clinical teams can make calls to patients directly. This will cut down travel time between care homes for clinical teams.
Our innovation scheme has been made possible through funding from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) as part of the Glasgow City Region (GCR) Smart and Connected Social Places 5G Innovation Fund. This initiative enables us to harness the power of 5G and advanced digital technologies to drive innovation, improve public services, and enhance the lives of communities across the region. With this support, we are developing smart, data-driven solutions that improve efficiency, empower individuals, and create more connected and resilient communities, ensuring our project delivers lasting impact.
