Another objective is disease control. Systems are designed to help patients with a chronic illness manage their disease on a regular basis and avoid conditions that lead to exacerbations or complications. Mair et al. examined the feasibility of telecommunication technology to assist in the support of acutely ill patients with COPD exacerbations at home. The home telecare system provided an alternative to hospital admission in COPD exacerbations. A third objective is providing personal and social support in chronic care to patients and caregivers.
Support plays an important role in managing patients with chronic health conditions.
It entails emotional and psychosocial help, peer support by sharing experiences, and mobilizing family and friends to care for the patient. This objective is particularly important to patients with limited access to health care. 8 Future developments will expand the scope of telecommunications in health care. Strode SW, Gustke S, Allen A. Technical and clinical progress in telemedicine. Warner I. Telemedicne applications for home health care.