Attendance and monitoring of congestive heart failure patients
In Austria hospitalisations due to congestive heart failure (CHF) consume 2 % of the Health Budget. It is in the interest of hospitals to improve this situation. A shift from acute to preventive care has been proven to reduce the number of hospital admissions which at the moment average 3000 per million inhabitants per year according to international studies. This figure is expected to grow in the coming years.
The Vienna Hospital with project leader Professor Pacher has developed a project to reduce the hospital admission rate by implementing home monitoring. According to Professor Pacher’s concept chronically ill patients will be monitored and supported at home over a number of years. Specifically trained nurses in specialist cardiac care centres contact their patients regularly and provide help and advice. ZYDACRON is the Vienna Hospital’s partner in this important project.
Because 30% of congestive heart failure (CHF) patients are hospitalised one or more times within 3 months, with an average number of 14 bed days, the project aims to avoid rehospitalisation by focusing on telemonitoring via video, including medical peripherals such as blood pressure monitors and weight scales. This routine check-up done at home is convenient, quick and comfortable for the patients - especially for those in rural areas, as they do not need to make daily trips to the health care centre.
The ZYDACRON CareStation Telehealth Portfolio is an audiovisual system that can be used as a supplement in the care for congestive heart failure patients. It is currently being trialled by the Vienna Hospital.
