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How digital technology places less burden on healthcare

Imagine a digital flower that blooms when you hit your daily excercise goal or wilts when you miss a medication dose. Creative technology like this, designed by students and researchers at the University of Twente, is part of the network of the expertise Centre for Remote Monitoring & Coaching (eCMC), an initiative of TechMed Centre of University of Twente.

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UT Stories Editorial Team
EHealth house University of Twente
EHealth house University of Twente

eCMC is steering a shift from reactive to proactive healthcare by developing eHealth solutions that allow patients to take control of their health while reducing the overwhelming demands on healthcare providers.

Roughly 10% of the global population lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). At least 80% of those people also have one or more other chronic conditions, such as heart failure or anxiety. When symptoms flare up, it is difficult to pinpoint the root cause as symptoms often overlap. eHealth eases the diagnostic process, replacing multiple visits to different specialists with tools that enable healthcare professionals to determine the root cause and quickly initiate treatment, preventing hospitalization.

“Patients are taking a more proactive role in managing their health. Hybrid care programmes combine in-person consultations with, for example, virtual coaching, helping them stick to healthier routines and manage their medication,” says Prof. dr. ir. Monique Tabak, who researches personalised eHealth for complex chronic conditions and leads the European RE-SAMPLE project on COPD and comorbidities. 

From reactive to preventive healthcare

At the heart of eCMC’s mission is telemedicine, where healthcare professionals and patients work in tandem with technology. Continuous patient monitoring — tracking heart rate or environmental factors, such as air quality, which is vital for managing COPD — offers valuable insights. Through web portals, clinicians access real-time data as well as disease predictions and treatment suggestions based on AI models while patients receive personalised support via mobile apps. 

As healthcare becomes more digital, the roles of healthcare professionals are changing. Technical physicians, for example, analyse patient data, thus freeing up time for doctors to focus on high complexity cases. Deciding who takes responsibility for each stage of patient care — whether it is a hospital doctor, a general practitioner, or a specialist — becomes essential.

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'Hybrid care programmes help patients stick to healthier routines and manage their medication'

Prof. dr. ir.
Monique Tabak

80% reduction in healthcare workload

Asthma care for children has seen a major transformation through eHealth. Typically, children with asthma visit their doctors once or twice a year, making it difficult to keep track of the condition between visits. Using wearable sensors, Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST) together with Prof. Tabak has developed a system that monitors a child's physical activity and heart rate. This continuous data flow provides caregivers with real-time insights and a more accurate picture of each child’s health.

“In almost 90% of the cases, the system lets us spot early signs of worsening asthma. The healthcare provider can then call the child in for a visit when needed, reducing unnecessary checkups. This has resulted in an 80% reduction in healthcare workload, and self-management among children and their families has improved by 25% over six months,” Tabak says. 

Extensive network

The strength of eCMC lies in its robust network of academics, clinicians, psychologists, computer scientists, and biomedical engineers who collaborate to develop technologies starting with a specific care need. Patients and healthcare professionals are involved, ensuring the solutions are practical and user-centred.

“We are fostering partnerships through consortia, seminars, and workshops,” says Marloes Makkink, project coordinator at eCMC. “Meanwhile, students at the University of Twente are working on eHealth technologies for real-world cases provided by medical professionals. Doctors in training and healthcare professionals are joining the educational process, learning alongside students to integrate these technologies into daily practice.” 

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'Patients and healthcare professionals are involved and ensure that the solutions are practical and user-oriented'

Tabak and Makkink emphasise that the Twente-Salland region, with its strong collaborations among hospitals, healthcare organisations, and knowledge and research institutes, is particularly well-suited to lead eHealth innovations. They invite researchers, healthcare professionals, and eHealth companies willing to advance eHealth or bring their research or digital innovations into the fold to join eCMC's network.

More info (in Dutch)

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