The role of telecare in the management of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the home

We examined home care as an alternative to hospital admission in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We performed a pilot study to investigate the feasibility of using telecommunications technology to assist in the support of acutely ill patients with exacerbations of COPD at home. Realtime, interactive video, via an analogue videophone, was used to allow patients in their own homes to obtain nursing support from a nurse located at a distant base station. Six individuals, four male and two female, had video-phones installed in their homes by members of the nursing intervention team. The age range was 52–72 years, mean 61.5. These patients used the system on 18 occasions. Experience in home telecare, via interactive video, has been limited to provision of ongoing support for relatively stable individuals with chronic illness. This pilot project represents the first attempt at providing home telecare in the UK to those experiencing an acute exacerbation of their chronic illness, who would otherwise have merited acute hospital admission.