Development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: a feasibility study

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of a text-messaging system to remotely monitor and support patients after discharge following elective colorectal surgery, within an enhanced recovery protocol. METHODS: Florence (FLO) is a National Health Service telehealth solution utilised for monitoring chronic...

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Main Authors: Bragg, Damian D., Edis, Helena, Clark, Sian, Parsons, Simon L., Perumpalath, Binoy, Lobo, Dileep N., Maxwell-Armstrong, Charles Alan
Format: Article
Published: Baishideng Publishing Group 2017
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Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/51241/
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author Bragg, Damian D.
Edis, Helena
Clark, Sian
Parsons, Simon L.
Perumpalath, Binoy
Lobo, Dileep N.
Maxwell-Armstrong, Charles Alan
author_facet Bragg, Damian D.
Edis, Helena
Clark, Sian
Parsons, Simon L.
Perumpalath, Binoy
Lobo, Dileep N.
Maxwell-Armstrong, Charles Alan
author_sort Bragg, Damian D.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of a text-messaging system to remotely monitor and support patients after discharge following elective colorectal surgery, within an enhanced recovery protocol. METHODS: Florence (FLO) is a National Health Service telehealth solution utilised for monitoring chronic health conditions, such as hypertension, using text-messaging. New algorithms were designed to monitor the well-being, basic physiological observations and any patient-reported symptoms, and provide support messages to patients undergoing colorectal surgery within an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol for 30 d after discharge. All interactions with FLO and physiological readings were recorded and patients were invited to provide feedback. RESULTS: Over a four-week period, 16 out of 17 patients used the FLO telehealth service at home. These patients did not receive telephone follow-up at three days, as per our standard protocol, unless they reported being unwell or did not make use of the technology. Three patients were readmitted within 30 d, and two of these were identified as being unwell by FLO prior to readmission. No adverse events attributable to the use of the technology were encountered. CONCLUSION:The utilisation of telehealth in the early follow-up of patients who have undergone major colorectal surgery after discharge is feasible. The use of this technology may assist in the early recognition and management of complications after discharge.
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spelling nottingham-512412020-05-04T19:08:38Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/51241/ Development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: a feasibility study Bragg, Damian D. Edis, Helena Clark, Sian Parsons, Simon L. Perumpalath, Binoy Lobo, Dileep N. Maxwell-Armstrong, Charles Alan AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of a text-messaging system to remotely monitor and support patients after discharge following elective colorectal surgery, within an enhanced recovery protocol. METHODS: Florence (FLO) is a National Health Service telehealth solution utilised for monitoring chronic health conditions, such as hypertension, using text-messaging. New algorithms were designed to monitor the well-being, basic physiological observations and any patient-reported symptoms, and provide support messages to patients undergoing colorectal surgery within an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol for 30 d after discharge. All interactions with FLO and physiological readings were recorded and patients were invited to provide feedback. RESULTS: Over a four-week period, 16 out of 17 patients used the FLO telehealth service at home. These patients did not receive telephone follow-up at three days, as per our standard protocol, unless they reported being unwell or did not make use of the technology. Three patients were readmitted within 30 d, and two of these were identified as being unwell by FLO prior to readmission. No adverse events attributable to the use of the technology were encountered. CONCLUSION:The utilisation of telehealth in the early follow-up of patients who have undergone major colorectal surgery after discharge is feasible. The use of this technology may assist in the early recognition and management of complications after discharge. Baishideng Publishing Group 2017-09-27 Article PeerReviewed Bragg, Damian D., Edis, Helena, Clark, Sian, Parsons, Simon L., Perumpalath, Binoy, Lobo, Dileep N. and Maxwell-Armstrong, Charles Alan (2017) Development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: a feasibility study. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 9 (9). pp. 193-199. ISSN 2219-2840 Telehealth; Remote monitoring; Colorectal surgery; Telephone follow up; Readmission https://www.wjgnet.com/1948-9366/full/v9/i9/WJGS-9-193-g002.htm doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v9.i9.193 doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v9.i9.193
spellingShingle Telehealth; Remote monitoring; Colorectal surgery; Telephone follow up; Readmission
Bragg, Damian D.
Edis, Helena
Clark, Sian
Parsons, Simon L.
Perumpalath, Binoy
Lobo, Dileep N.
Maxwell-Armstrong, Charles Alan
Development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: a feasibility study
title Development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: a feasibility study
title_full Development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: a feasibility study
title_fullStr Development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: a feasibility study
title_full_unstemmed Development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: a feasibility study
title_short Development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: a feasibility study
title_sort development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: a feasibility study
topic Telehealth; Remote monitoring; Colorectal surgery; Telephone follow up; Readmission
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/51241/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/51241/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/51241/