Telemonitoring of home infusion technology

BACKGROUND: The specialized registered nurses working in the technologic homecare team of our organization are highly qualified in technical nursing. One component of their job is the intravenous administration of medication to patients in their own home by using an infusion pump. In a hospital setting you can ask a colleague nurse to check the installation of the pump and the dose of medication. In the home situation of a patient this is not possible. The Inspection for Healthcare in the Netherlands has mentioned this problem in a report about home infusion technology, for the absence of a double check means a higher risk of making mistakes. This was a motivation to look for a safe solution for this problem by using telemonitoring. METHOD: To conceive this method we found an enthusiastic technical installation company (Focus Cura) to develop a portable telemonitoring device which can film and record. The device allows a colleague to receive the recorded pictures at the same time at another location. After editing a list of requirements made together with the team of specialized nurses, Focus Cura made the first prototype of a portable suitcase with all the equipment. Four different methods of receiving the images have been examined. RESULT: The result is a portable suitcase with a camera that makes high quality video images, which are sent by a safe and protected connection to the notebook of a colleague at another location in the region. We have developed a protocol which describes the use of telemonitoring to aid home infusion technology. CONCLUSION: Thus, specialized nurses working in an area of about 100 kilometres (62 miles) can reach each other in order of a safe double-check. A simple method which improves the safety of the patient and professional.