New advances in medical technologies make it easier for patients with chronic illnesses to stay more connected with their doctors. Many of these new innovations are centered around remotely monitoring a patient’s vitals and other conditions outside of hospital walls, called telemonitoring. While telemonitoring systems come in all shapes and sizes, they all have the ability to keep doctors more in touch with the conditions of their patients, wherever they may be. It commonly involves the use of audio, video, and other electronic information technologies to observe a person’s wellbeing and can help predict the onset of an illness. Telemonitoring systems are most commonly used in patients with chronic diseases, such as chronic heart failure and diabetes. Although privacy rights and financial costs are often a major concern among critics, new innovations in telemonitoring systems are revolutionizing the medical field and, in turn, proving very beneficial for both patients and doctors. 

The impact that telemonitoring systems will have on the future of heath care is almost unbelievable. By monitoring patients from a distance, they are successfully diminishing the admittance rate in hospitals. In doing so, doctors have more time devoted to performing surgeries, attending to hospitalized patients, and overall can spend their time in a more effective way (Stone 2). The possibilites for telemonitoring systems are seemingly endless. For example, the first use of telemonitoring systems was conducted in 1961 when the EEG and respiratory rate of the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, were continuously monitored by physicians (Stone 2). From here, the field exploded. By using a sensor that is connected to the patient, raw data can be transmitted to the patient’s doctor and alert him or her if the patient is showing signs of decline. Doctors come to a better understanding of how a particular treatment or medication affects a patient because they can see the daily effect that the treatment has on each person in the analysis of their telemonitoring reports. Telemonitoring systems are often used even within the hospital to relay information from one department to another (Wick 2). If a heart patient in cardiology needs an x-ray of his or her chest, vital signs and medical history can immediately be sent to the radiology team so that they know exactly what they are looking for in a patient. Additionally, telemonitoring systems are largely used in emergency situations in ambulances so that the paramedics in the ambulance can alert the doctors of the emergency room of all the details needed in the immediate care of the patient (Stone 1). The immense benefits of this technology can be applied to almost every medical situation, making it an exciting and crucial development of modern medicine. 

 Many of the systems also have the ability to detect unusual movements that can be signs of decline. In a study done by Sage Journals, thirty patients with chronic heart failure were provided with at home telemonitoring units for a twelve-week period (Jones 1). The data resulting from the study showed that the patients felt more at ease with the systems monitoring their health (Jones 1). Because they did not have to make the trip to the doctor’s every time a flare up occurred, both patients and doctors were very satisfied with the intervention of telemonitoring. Physicians can also use the technology built into telemonitoring systems to graph the data that is received. This is revolutionary because instead of looking at day by day reports of the patient’s health, the doctor can assess trends in the patient’s health at a glace, such as certain days where they have low blood sugar or less activity (Richtel 2). The doctors can use these observations to adjust a patient’s treatment plan. As stated by Dr. Seid of the New York Jewish Hospital, “When your pain increases, you’re less likely to be at the park or the mall. It could be early indicators of a flare – up or worsening of the disease. The technology measures social behavior at a scale and depth you just didn’t have before” (Richtel 1). Therefore, the systems can serve as a predictor of the onset of an illness or episode by alerting the doctor of unusual activity. 

One of the major front runners of telemonitoring systems is a company called HEALTHeLINK. One of their main philosophies is that engaging the patient in their own health care program improves their outcome immensely (Carson 1). By involving the patient, they believe that matters are more in their hands than in their doctor’s hands, and it increases compliance in patients because they can first handedly see their treatment plans working. Another goal of HEALTHeLINK is to reduce the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations. This is beneficial in both patient care as well as from a financial perspective. HEALTHeLINK also recognizes that nurses are crucial in overcoming the obstacles like information overload associated with telemonitoring (Carson 2). In order to make this system the most efficient as possible, the data must be reviewed and interpreted to determine which doctor must be alerted. Because the best doctor related to the patient’s condition can be called based on the data received from telemonitoring systems, time is saved. This time can be the difference of life and death. 

One of the main complaints against telemonitoring systems is the financial cost that it will require in order to become effective. Obviously, it will take some time and money to make these systems operate under full efficiency. While there are still some kinks to work out and more funding that needs to be provided, it has been estimated that the use of telemonitoring systems could save about $197 billion in the United States alone within the next 25 years (Vangalia). The use of telemonitoring systems is even beginning to be pushed harder by the government. The Affordable Care Act is expected to shift its ideology from fee-for-service to fee-for-performance (Carson 2). What this means is that doctors are starting to get paid for keeping their patients healthy instead of charging the patient regardless of how their health is effected in the future. This aspect of the Affordable Care Act is being changed because it is believed that better chronic care management, such as that seen in diabetic patients or chronic heart failure patients, will keep costs down in hospitals. Part of this surge to keep costs down will be the integration of remote telemonitoring systems because it allows for patients to better monitor their own conditions outside of the hospital (Jones 2). More support for telemonitoring systems comes from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), estimating that 75% of all yearly US health care costs is devoted to the treatment of patients with chronic conditions. The use of telemonitoing systems would push this percentage downward, because those with chronic conditions can now monitor their own health and make less appointments to see the doctor (Vangalia 2). This percentage, 75%, is so influential on the cost of medical care that any decrease in it will result in less expensive medical services for everyone. While yes, telemonitoring systems have some room for improvement, their projected success is unquestionable. 

Remote telemonitoring systems are popping up left and right because they are easier than ever to make. Wireless connection, blue tooth, and other wireless transmissions of data are all fields that have been well practiced at this point in time. These systems utilize the technology that we have had for a while now to make life changing patient care. New innovations in wearable telemonitoring systems are being created for a whole new variety of conditions. One example is the ITBra by Cyrcadia Health (Kosir 1). This is not like any other bra, it has sensors embedded in the bra that monitor the condition of breast tissue and can alert the patient and doctor at the early onset of breast cancer. This bra has been tested at an 87% success rate in detecting the onset of breast cancer (Kosir 2). Obviously, this product has the capacity to save many lives of those impacted by breast cancer. Just as impressive, the Embrace smart watch can detect epilepsy in a child and alert a parent of medical staff (Kosir 2). By integrating medical grade sensors and signals that can monitor all of our activity, the Embrace watch serves as the perfect companion to children with epilepsy by sensing the onset of epilepsy in a child’s vital signs. For children, parents, and doctors alike, the Embrace watch allows for a sense of security in knowing that the child is being well monitored. 

Telemonitoring systems can even go in the direction of fetal care. Reported as the best thing that apple could have done for women, the newly created Airstrip is a telemonitoring system linked to a corresponding app that can comfortably measure all the information that an in-hospital “Non-Stress Test” can measure in high risk pregnancies. A Non-Stress Test is actually supposed to be an extremely stressful situation, a patient is hooked up to a ton of monitors and is instructed to sit still for a whole hour while they are worried about the condition of their unborn child (Walker 1).  The Airstrip eliminates these tests to be conducted in the comfort of the patient’s own home. It can relay the condition of the patient and baby to the doctor and can better predict factors such as the timing of contractions and delivery. This technology is truly revolutionary for soon-to-be mothers because they have better access to the health condition of their baby (Walker 2). The wide array of possibilities that monitoring systems cover are benefitting people with all sorts of conditions, from a child’s epilepsy to a soon to be child’s fetal health. 

One exciting branch of telemonitoring is the use of telephones to monitor a mentally disabled patient’s well-being. Used with patients suffering from mental illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Parkinson’s, a United States company called Canary Speech is attempting to predict a patient’s health with the use of regular phone calls. Canary Speech is developing a software that can analyze conversations between patient and doctor to detect small changes in speech patterns (Gaskell 1). For example, if a patient lowers their voice it can be a sign of despair, or if a patient raises their voice it can be a sign of fear or anger. These changes in speech can help predict the onset of a neurological decline or a flare up of the mental disorder. For patients with these terribly capacitating illnesses, the use of these phone calls can save their lives by getting them the appropriate care necessary care they need. Canary Speech also expects their system to be a major help to psychologists with patients suffering from long term depression and anxiety. Because it picks up on the smallest of voice changes, Canary Speech can help alert the doctor or psychologist of what exactly is causing the patient distress and how to fix it (Gaskell 2). Because suicide is so abundant in people with mental disorders, the system can help get the patient into a safe place before it is too late. 

Even Google has found a way to insert itself into the field of telemonitoring with its invention of the Google Smart Lense. Google was recently awarded a gigantic patent for the making of a solar powered contact lense. This contact lense is far from ordinary, it has the capability to export information to computers and collect biological data about the person wearing them (Thompson 1). Originally, Google announced the lense as a companion for those suffering from diabetes. It can measure blood-glucose levels through a chip embedded in the contact, which takes the tears made by the wearer to collect this data. While this seems awesome and exciting to probably anyone that reads it, Google has recently announced in the new patent that they will be working on making it even more extraordinary. Potential uses of this contact lense include the ability to detect internal information regarding the contact wearer’s biological data, such as internal body temperature, blood-alcohol content, and blood pressure (Thompson 1). The sensors could also potentially process data about the patient’s external surroundings.  For example, the lense could presumably sense allergens in the air and communicate this information to the patient’s phone so that they can be prepared and take the proper steps to avoid an allergic reaction. Perhaps the craziest part about it all: every single one of these abilities is solar powered through photo detector sensors and solar cells embedded in the contact (Thompson 2). While this seems like an invention straight out of a science fiction novel, Google has made it clear that they are working toward making this dream a reality. Through this proposition it is clear that the future is here, and many patient’s lives will hopefully be positively impacted with the usage of these innovative telemonitoring systems. 

The companies and researchers behind the development of telemonitoring systems are aware of the degree of privacy invasion that is necessary in collecting this information. One of the biggest problems that remote telemonitoring systems face is that many people do not want to be monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week (Richtel 2). However, it is important to remember that all patients must obviously give consent to these practices. Nothing is done against their will, and everything that is gathered about the patient usually comes in the form of numerical data that can only be read by medical professionals (Wick 1).  Telemonitoring systems really are in the best interest of the patients, and the disadvantage of small breaches of privacy outweigh the significant positive impact that they have on a patient’s life and future. 

It is important to recognize the new developments in technology in our ever-evolving society. The future in medical technologies is essential in the future of all people, for each advancement made is yet another life saved. Although it may be scary how different the world is becoming, technology is continuously becoming an inseperable part of everyday life. At this point, is has gained way too much momentum to be reversed. For this reason, instead of turning our backs to its potential problems, such as financial cost and privacy invasion, it is essential to embrace the abilities that technology has provided us. Telemonitoring systems are a revolutionary development of modern society, and is a key example of how technology is being utilized toward all people’s best interest. It is the inevitable and exciting future of healthcare that will someday change the lives of each of us. 
