TELUS Health expanded its monitoring technology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers can now remotely monitor COVID-19 patients who are recovering in their homes, thanks to the Home Health Monitoring technology. This technology allows healthcare workers keep an eye on many patients at once, yet maintain distance, preventing the spread of the virus.

“By enabling clinicians to remotely observe the vitals of patients with COVID-19, as well as those who are vulnerable to the virus, and provide necessary interventions early, we can reduce exposure and also help to alleviate the pressure in hospital emergency rooms and clinics,” said Darren Entwistle, president and CEO, TELUS.

The program, through a mobile device, sends reminders to patients to report their temperature, physical symptoms and overall health condition so healthcare workers can tend to those who need care urgently. If needed, some patients may be advised to contact their doctor or visit their nearest hospital emergency room.

“Home monitoring is a significant part of our response to the ongoing pandemic,” said Lisa Saffarek, Clinical Director Virtual Care and Home Health Monitoring lead at Island Health.

“The monitoring solution has also improved clinical capacity for our Public Health team, the front line of our pandemic response.”

Since 2013, Home Health Monitoring by TELUS Health has remotely monitored patients with chronic conditions such as heart failure, diabetes and respiratory diseases. The TELUS Home Health Monitoring system is aligned with the Canadian Centre for Disease Control’s COVID-19 protocols for the monitoring of patients recovering from COVID-19 outside of hospitals.

“Our investment has enabled us to act quickly to monitor our patients in isolation while also providing them with peace of mind, knowing that they are being monitored daily by their healthcare teams,” said Corrie Barclay, Assistant Deputy Minister of Health Sector Information Management/Information Technology with the B.C. Ministry of Health.