WEARABLE MOBILE TECHNOLOGY FOR HEALTHCARE:

THE EVOLUTION OF TELEMEDIS™

A CELLULAR-BASED MOBILE-HEALTH SYSTEM IN SWEDEN

O. Atzmon*, D. Shklarski*, S. Jonsson**, R. Nabiev** and H. Teriö**

* Tadiran Spectralink Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel

** Biomedical Engineering, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

oatzmon@tadspec.com

Abstract: TeleMedIS is a new e-Health system for

remote monitoring of patients, which will be

evaluated in Karolinska University Hospital,

Huddinge. The system consists of: TMW

(Telemedicine Monitoring Wristwatch), a personal

wireless wrist-wearable remote monitoring device,

developed by Tadiran Spectralink (Israel);

Telemedicine Home-Care Platform (TeleMed HC

Platform), which is a platform for remote

management and support of biomedical equipments

located in patients' homes, and established in the

Biomedical Engineering Department at Karolinska

University Hospital, and Wireless Network

infrastructure provided by TeliaSonera Sweden AB.

The project will evaluate and investigate the possible

deployment and commercialization of TeleMedIS

solution in the swedish healthcare sector.

Introduction

The healthcare industry is undergoing significant

changes. e-Health is becoming increasingly important

and is being considered as an answer to the rising costs

of healthcare, the ageing of the population and the

increasing demand for high quality healthcare.

TeleMedIS™ is a new e-Health system for remote

monitoring of patients , which will be evaluated in

Karolinska, Stockholm. The system consists of: TMW

(Telemedicine Monitoring Wristwatch), a personal

wireless wrist-wearable remote monitoring device,

developed by Tadiran Spectralink (Israel); Telemedicine

Home-Care Platform (TeleMed HC Platform), which is

a software platform established in the Biomedical

Engineering Department at Karolinska University

Hospital, and Wireless Network infrastructure provided

by TeliaSonera Sweden AB.

Materials and Methods

TeleMedIS™ enables continuous monitoring of vital

signs of patients, such as pulse rate, 1-lead ECG, and

blood oxygen saturation level (SpO2) with real-time

cellular communications, using its built-in embedded

cellular engine, transmitting medical date, receiving

medical advice and conducting two-way voice-based

consultation with a remote medical professional.

Patients can be monitored from anywhere, in their

homes, at work or during traveling.

Results

TeleMedIS™ is currently being integrated into the

Biomedical Engineering Department’s infrastructure,

and going through engineering, clinical and usability

trials, in order to evaluate its acceptance and benefits.

The system holds the potential for improved care, cost

savings and effective use of limited resources in the

Swedish healthcare system. In the future it could be

integrated with Sjunet, the Swedish national health

information network.

Discussion

The presentation will discuss the systems' features, the

trials program, the expected outcomes and the potential

benefits for patients, physicians, administrators and

other stakeholders, as well as future research which will

be needed for exploiting the systems benefits and its

influence on future health delivery methods.