Care home residents are set to benefit from new technology that offers easier access to a GP while minimising risk of infection from Covid-19.
Health technology outfit Medicspot is rolling out remote diagnosis hub that allows at-risk residents to be accurately assessed by a GP without the need for a visit.
The NHS-approved video-conference hubs come with connected devices that enable clinicians to take real-time vitals during an online consultation.
The remote diagnostic solution allows GPs to assess the patient’s temperature, oxygen levels and heart and lung health via a remote examination facilitated by the carer.
In response to the Covid-19 crisis, the NHS has advised health officials to introduce a weekly virtual care home rounds.
Willow’s Medical Centre, a GP surgery in Leicester, has recently installed Medicspot across four care homes.
Dr Vinay Gupta, a GP partner with the centre, said the system has reduced the time of one care home visit from up to an hour to 15–20 minutes.
“Feedback has been very positive and it has been a particularly useful tool for diagnosis in the current pandemic. I believe incorporating more tech will be the way forward for health care and we will see much more remote diagnosis come into play across the healthcare system,” he added.
Medicspot chief executive Dr Zubair Ahmed said: “Improving the digital links between care homes and other parts of the health system is essential if we want to do even better at providing holistic care to care home residents”.
In total, 11 care homes in Leicester and Nottinghamshire are using the technology with training and installation provided by Medicspot, supported by a supply chain through its East Sussex manufacturer.
