Auckland Hospital is trialling its first mobile telehealth solution, partnering with Gen-i and Alcatel Lucent for a three-month pilot, which began on 1 October.

Twenty heart patients are taking daily measurements of weight, blood pressure, and pulse rate using an electronic scale and blood pressure monitor. Their measurements are automatically transmitted via mobile phone to a secure online database. The readings are monitored daily by the cardiac team.

Auckland DHB chief funding and planning manager Dr Denis Jury says mobile telehealth applications such as the one currently being trialled are designed to keep people with long term conditions well and out of hospital.

“It is hoped that technology will, in time, also support the growing number of patients with other long-term illnesses such as diabetes, respiratory disease, hypertension and asthma.”

Gen-i is integrating various ICT technologies to deliver Alcatel Lucent’s TeleHealth solution over both Nokia and Blackberry mobile handsets. Results from the trial are expected in early 2010, after which Auckland DHB may extend the trial to patients with other chronic illnesses.