Promoting and Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting Kent TeleHealth Evaluative Development Pilot A study into the management of people with long term conditions

This innovative and ground breaking pilot commenced in March 2005, following a visit to the USA in June 2004. It was based on an agreement reached between KCC, the PCTs in Kent, general practitioners (GPs) and the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System in the USA. The decision to invest in this area to test the effectiveness of the telehealth technology was in many ways ahead of the government's policy agenda. The full project rolled out to a total of 250 people between 2005-07, developing different clinical models of care and different frequencies of monitoring. The original intention was that the technology would be available to people with long term conditions (LTCs) aged 65 yerars and above, although in practice it took in a broader age range.

The highly significant telehealth pilot sought to improve the 'Quality of Life'; to both empower and improve choice whilst supporting independence. At that time telehealth complemented our existing work with a government initiative on innovation focusing on reducing hospital admissions. This Innovation Forum together with telecare contributed to our 10 year plan - 'Active Lives,' of which the underlying theme is to help the people of Kent to live safely and independently in their local communities.