Doctors will be able to monitor patients with serious lung conditions without the patient even having to leave their home, or the doctor their surgery, thanks to Telehealth Solutions' HomePod.
Staff at Leven Medical Centre are now being trained i
n how to use the revolutionary system, which will help the NHS manage chronic conditions and reduce hospital admissions.
NHS Fife's Telehealth project manager, Dr Suzanne Brannan, said: "This technology will enable us to deliver tailored healthcare in the comfort of the patient's own home thereby improving quality of life for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and reducing hospital acute admissions."
According to the British Lung Foundation, COPD kills more than 4000 Scots a year and cold weather at this time of year also heightens the risks posed by chest infections.
Using the HomePod, people can monitor their vital signs on a daily basis, checking things like lung function and blood pressure.
And once the information is processed, it is then sent on to their GP so even if they do still have to go to hospital their stay wouldn't be as long because the problem was detected earlier.
The HomePod system has proved successful in trials in Argyll and Bute and Renfrewshire, and it is hoped this can be replicated in Fife.
Dr Colin Selby, clinical lead for respiratory medicine in Fife, suggested that this technology should enable individuals with COPD to self-manage their disease.
He said: "These HomePods have the potential to provide early warning to local healthcare providers with opportunities for even earlier intervention; supporting at home rather than hospital admission.
"I am looking forward to their use in Fife."
