DOMICILIARY care provider Connected Health has unveiled Europe’s first online home care package builder which allows clients to pick and mix high-quality care services and medical technology to suit their individual needs - just like they would build in the elements of a new car or mobile phone contract.
The ‘Connected Health 2.0’ home care configurator, launched to coincide with Carer’s Week in Northern Ireland, provides a one-stop-shop where packages of physical care can be easily integrated with wearable technology, medication devices and virtual care service offerings.
“This new programme is reimagining the way home care is delivered in Northern Ireland and beyond,” Connected Health's stakeholder engagement director Rachel Brammer said.
“It empowers clients to create their ideal personalised care packages in much the same way that they would build-in the elements of a new car or mobile phone contract.
“The platform provides the option to blend high-quality physical care with technology in order to deliver a more holistic, and person-centred, package of support that is tailored to each individual’s needs.
“Essentially, we want to keep our loved ones out of hospitals and care homes, and in the comfort of their own home.”
Users of the platform can simply build what they need into their care package by adding required services and products into their online shopping basket and placing an order. They can select the number of hours of physical on-site care they need, and the volume of virtual daily check-ins required. They can also add medical technology such as activity monitors, medication adherence monitors and incontinence detectors.
Once a client or family member configures a care package, they will receive a suitability assessment phone call from Connected Health, followed by an on-site risk assessment in their home, before their bespoke home care service begins.
Ms Brammer said the Northern Ireland project is “the first of its kind in the homecare market in Europe”.
“With an ageing population, living longer and limited physical capacity to deliver care, we need to be innovative and find sustainable solutions which is what Connected Health 2.0 delivers.
“We are already working closely with health trusts to provide solutions for delayed discharge and hospital to home pathways utilising this blended approach.’’
All medical devices offered in the home care configurator have been fully tested in the field through Connected Health’s innovative ‘Living Lab’. This process involves a rigorous five-step assessment in real-life care scenarios to identify the best viable solutions that clients, their families and their carers can rely on and trust.
Rebecca Vogel, director of technology at Connected Health, said: “We have developed Connected Health 2.0 over a long period of time, with extensive input from stakeholders, as well as our technology partners which include Amazon, Microsoft and Arrow Electronics. We are incredibly excited about the launch of Connected Health 2.0 which focuses on re-engineering, modernising and disrupting the entire home care sector.”
Ms Brammer added that the roadmap for development of the service is clear.
“Connected Health 2.0 is a scalable service that has reimagined home care and provided a solution in the provision of intelligent care for all,” she said.
“Phase one is to offer bespoke home care packages throughout the UK and Ireland over the next two years. During that time, Connected Health will become the recognised accreditation service for new technologies in the home care sector.
“Phase two of the project is to expand our vision of home care internationally, providing remote certified training and global deployment of care and technology within five years.”
