The telemonitoring journey for chronic diseases - The past drives the future

2^nd International Conference on Health Informatics and Technology

July 27-29, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Mirou Jaana

ScientificTracks Abstracts-Workshop: J Health Med Informat

Abstract :

Telemonitoring represents a promising patient management approach, which has been extensively studied in the literature over the last two decades. It leverages technology for the close follow-up and management of patients through timely transmission of clinical and physiological data that enables prompt medical interventions when needed, prior to worsening in a patientâ??s condition. Its application in relation to chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, heart failure, respiratory conditions, and hypertension) has been researched and advocated in different countries. The aging of populations around the world, the increasing burden of chronic diseases, and the resulting skewed heath care expenditures have raised concerns over the capacity of existing health care systems to deal with these challenges. Telemonitoring of patients with chronic diseases is perceived as a powerful and viable intervention for managing patients with these conditions, which is capable of addressing existing resource challenges, as well as concerns observed with the delivery of chronic care. Different modalities, arrangements/settings, and technologies related to telemonitoring have evolved in the literature, and the heterogeneity of the studies investigating this approach has been documented. Despite the abundance of articles, beginning with empirical studies and progressing into reviews, most of the reported evidence emphasized on specific outcomes measures to accentuate its relevance and viability as a patient management approach, and highlighted methodological weaknesses and discrepancies in the conducted evaluations to be addressed in this track of research. Potential benefits associated with telemonitoring remain to be exploited, which should guide future research agendas and investments in this field.

Biography :

Mirou Jaana completed her PhD in Health Management and Policy at the University of Ottawa, and her Post-doctoral fellowship in Health Information Technology at HEC Montreal. She conducted extensive research on IT assessment in health care including the implementation of information systems and electronic medical records, risks and mitigation strategies in clinical IT projects, and IT strategic planning and management issues in hospitals. She also developed several systematic reviews on the use and impacts of telemonitoring for chronic diseases. Her work appeared in leading journals, including JAMIA, American Journal of Managed Care, IJMI and JMIR. Her publications made significant contributions to research on telemonitoring, as indicated by the high number of citations for these articles. She is currently working on a project investigating the factors that affect the adoption and use of telemonitoring technology among elderly..