Virtual wards While there are claims that virtual wards can
recover patients at the same rate or faster than those in hospitals, thereby reducing waiting lists and costs, there is a growing concern that the additional strain is passed on to caregivers and nurses. With an overstretched workforce, this can further impact the ability to deliver timely and effective care to patients. Patients should have the ability to identify any
changes or developments in their conditions that could be harmful - this means there should be regular check-ins, online or in-person, to ensure the patient is recovering properly. Self- management also requires the patient to have a good level of understanding of how they can help manage the condition.
The role of MedTech As the virtual wards programme expands, innovations can be adopted to further support patients and healthcare professionals deliver care in the home setting where necessary. In particular, leveraging self-application devices can inspire patients to manage and take charge of their own care. When used correctly, patients improve
healing rates and, as their condition improves, it reduces the need for frequent checkups by their carers. This enables them to spend more time delivering care to other patients, who may need it more, particularly patients with chronic conditions who require more care due to the complexity and long-lasting nature of their condition. As more self-application devices become introduced within the home setting, patient care is increasingly shared, reducing the additional strain that caregivers and nurses could face with the widespread use of virtual wards.
In addition to self-application devices,
deploying wearables can further improve the delivery of care in virtual wards as these solutions enable healthcare professionals to regularly check on and monitor their patients. This allows patients to stay at home for longer and spend more of their time closer to their families and other local networks, which can further improve well-being and recovery. Meanwhile, non-invasive devices don’t negatively impact the daily lives of the patient, meaning they are able to continue to move and sleep freely, promoting patient well-being. In a virtual ward setting, this is particularly useful as it promotes recovery, all while in the home setting. These types of medical devices can improve the ability of patients to manage their care, but to reap its full benefits, these devices should be simple enough for patients to apply themselves and come with clear and concise
instructions for use. These devices also need to be safe with minimal risks posed to patients if misused.
Balancing in-person treatment Virtual wards hold significant promise and can provide convenient and effective care to patients - all improved by the use of MedTech. However, while virtual wards can be beneficial, there needs to be regular human intervention to ensure efficient healthcare delivery. While some patients have a close network of support through close friends or family, some are not as fortunate and would heavily rely on in-person visits by healthcare providers. Patients who are mentally compromised or not computer literate would also require in-person visits to ensure they can access the treatment they need. Despite the promise of virtual wards making
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