The aging society requires new forms of medical services. One of the fastest growing technologies is telemedicine. Research in this area is also performed by scientists from Wrocław University of Science and Technology in cooperation with doctors from Lower Silesia.

Telemedicine – often also called medicine at a distance – consists in providing medical services by combining elements of telecommunications, IT and medicine. It is worth noting that it is related – unlike e.g. teleconsultation – with clinical services, and owing to the use of modern technologies it allows specialist information to be exchanged in real time. This allows e.g. remote diagnostics.

Telemedicine systems are often designed with the use of digital data processing algorithms, which allow the transmission of high-resolution images and photos as well as of audiovisual signal.

Scientists from our Faculty are part of a consortium established to conduct research on a new telemedicine services platform for people aged 60+, which will facilitate access to health services.

In addition to Wrocław University of Science and Technology, the consortium also includes the 4thMilitary Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic SP ZOZ (leader), ten primary health care units from Lower Silesia and Wielkopolska, a Norwegian partner and a technological partner.

Keep up with the patients’ needs

– The project results from the current medical needs, current situation in the health care system and the needs of society in the context of access to medicine. It is addressed to people aged 60+, and that is because our society is getting older and the issues of medical services for this age group are becoming an increasingly important issue – says Prof. Grzegorz Kołaczek, head of the Department of Computer Science and Systems Engineering.

Recently, an increasing number of initiatives have been launched to support the elderly in access to medical services, and the coronavirus pandemic has become a turning point. It significantly limited and disrupted continuous access to doctors, which had a negative impact on the health of patients.

– Interestingly, during the pandemic, it also turned out that we have technical measures that can eliminate these problems to some extent. With the current level of technological development, direct access to a doctor is no longer a prerequisite to therapy – explains Prof. Grzegorz Kołaczek.

The project with address 520 patients, including a minimum of 260 women and at least 52 people from the so-called excluded areas, i.e. areas with an average income per capita below the national average. This is partly due to the fact that in these regions the contact with a doctor is limited by a small number of primary health care units, and as a result, by a long commute to specialists.

– Our goal in the project is also to eliminate these limitations. Of course, it is necessary to have access to the Internet. However, infrastructural projects have been carried out in Poland for many years, and their aim is to eliminate white spots and facilitate access to the network even in small communities – explains Prof. Grzegorz Kołaczek. – Participants who do not have the appropriate devices will be able to rent them from us – he adds.

In addition, the participants will be screened for sarcopenia, bone fragility syndrome and malnutrition.

– Statistically, these conditions account for a significant proportion of the health problems that affect this age group. Their early detection may allow appropriate treatment, and thus may help avoid hospitalization or exacerbation of coexisting diseases – emphasizes Prof. Grzegorz Kołaczek.

Improving the system

The platform for telemedicine services will be prepared by the technology partner, the primary health care units will be responsible for patient care, and specialists from the 4th Military Clinical Hospital will coordinate all of the activities. The task of our scientists will be to supervise the appropriate modification of the software and to control sensitive data protection.

 – On the one hand, it requires purely technical skills, but there are also aspects related to legal and formal requirements and data security. We will also prepare a set of analyses and recommendations related to the operation of the platform, which may be the basis for the subsequent expansion and implementation of the system to conform to the solutions currently used by the Ministry of Health – says Prof. Grzegorz Kołaczek.

He emphasizes that telemedicine technologies can become the future of health care, extending the contact between the patient and the doctor, e.g. by obtaining diagnostic data. Thanks to their use, the doctor can obtain information about the patient's health faster and more efficiently.

– Let's imagine that we have a monitoring device that continuously transmits data about our vital parameters when we are at home. A doctor who has constant access to such data may notice some disturbing signals and react appropriately, even before we start to feel bad ourselves. This can help avoid critical situations or significantly affect, for example, the effectiveness of therapy – explains Prof. Grzegorz Kołaczek.

Pilot studies will be conducted until the end of 2023. Funding for the project in the amount of over PLN 2 million was awarded under the Norwegian Funds.