In an interview with Torbjörn L Möller, CEO of CareTelCom, we find out how the company’s unique approach to COPD can be applied to other chronic diseases benefitting patients and healthcare professionals globally.
Skåne's Life Science and ICT clusters create dynamic growth in eHealth
The cross fertilization of the ICT and Life Science disciplines in Skåne is opening up many new exciting opportunities in patient focused healthcare, with eHealth set to become strategically important to the future of Skåne's Life Science cluster. Skåne has been traditionally strong in mobile and life science technology, so it is no surprise that the sharing of insights is leading to new ways of treating and managing patient outcomes. The shift from a healthcare centred to a patient centred approach is being facilitated by this infusion of expertise.
A unique, holistic patient-centred approach to COPD
CareTelCom has pioneered a holistic patient centric approach to COPD sufferers, which has resulted in a unique concept that integrates existing technologies into a single health management solution.
As Torbjörn L Möller enthusiastically comments: "The synergy of integrating existing elements – mobile, sensors, database and software – has resulted in a revolutionary approach to managing health remotely, so that the patient's quality of life is maximized while significantly reducing healthcare costs."
Empowering patients & healthcare professionals
There are companies that can provide part of the solution through apps, and sensors either freestanding or report based. CareTelCom is unique in marrying these together into their CTC-Actiwise tool, which actively monitors and follows up on COPD patients.
Tobjörn explains: "We very early on saw that we could positively change the outcome for COPD patients by using a mobile, structured questions and by measuring activity, which is then fed into a database. This gives doctors and COPD nurses live data and facilitates feedback to the patient."
This allows healthcare staff not only to give timely advice and treatment, but also largely avoids the dangers and costs of emergency assistance. If a doctor sees a negative trend in a patient then they can be called in before the trend becomes acute. The success and efficiency of managing COPD patients remotely can be replicated for other chronic diseases too, such as heart disease and cancer.
Bridging the gap to international success
Invest in Skåne has helped CareTelCom to attract finance and development assistance from the German Linde Group. Torbjörn L Möller believes both Region Skåne (Skåne Regional Council) and Invest in Skåne can play a vital role for eHealth companies by helping to find larger partners in order to drive projects and open doors internationally. Skåne has a broad base of both ICT and MIM (Medical Information Management) knowledge on which to build upon, but it is vital that the international network of contacts continues to grow in order to facilitate development and commercialize the next generation of eHealth ideas.
Chronic diseases alone account for 85% of all healthcare funding in Sweden, and other European countries are reporting similar percentages. As the population ages dramatically over the next 20 years the need to manage these illnesses remotely will become vital if the healthcare systems are not to be overburdened. CareTelCom and other eHealth companies in Skåne are offering solutions that are win:wins for patients, the healthcare system and potential investors.
Read more about CareTelCom
This article was produced within the project "Medicon Valley – a world-class life science region" financed by the EU.
