RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Tele-monitoring of ventilator-dependent patients: a European Respiratory Society Statement
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 648
OP 663
DO 10.1183/13993003.01721-2015
VO 48
IS 3
A1 Ambrosino, Nicolino
A1 Vitacca, Michele
A1 Dreher, Michael
A1 Isetta, Valentina
A1 Montserrat, Josep M.
A1 Tonia, Thomy
A1 Turchetti, Giuseppe
A1 Winck, Joao Carlos
A1 Burgos, Felip
A1 Kampelmacher, Michael
A1 Vagheggini, Guido
YR 2016
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/3/648.abstract
AB The estimated prevalence of ventilator-dependent individuals in Europe is 6.6 per 100 000 people. The increasing number and costs of these complex patients make present health organisations largely insufficient to face their needs. As a consequence, their burden lays mostly over families. The need to reduce healthcare costs and to increase safety has prompted the development of tele-monitoring for home ventilatory assistance.A European Respiratory Society Task Force produced a literature research based statement on commonly accepted clinical criteria for indications, follow-up, equipment, facilities, legal and economic issues of tele-monitoring of these patients.Many remote health monitoring systems are available, ensuring safety, feasibility, effectiveness, sustainability and flexibility to face different patients' needs. The legal problems associated with tele-monitoring are still controversial. National and European Union (EU) governments should develop guidelines and ethical, legal, regulatory, technical, administrative standards for remote medicine. The economic advantages, if any, of this new approach must be compared to a “gold standard” of home care that is very variable among different European countries and within each European country.Much more research is needed before considering tele-monitoring a real improvement in the management of these patients.More research is needed to consider tele-monitoring an improvement in routine care of ventilator dependent patients http://ow.ly/16gM300hEhx