Care Malta, 6pm plc venture to enhance patient independence

Emcare, the electronic and mobile health services company officially launched last Wednesday, is preparing to roll out its offering which seeks to empower people to monitor their health through home kits and Web-based communication tools.

Emcare does not replace medical professionals

A partnership between Vassallo Group’s elderly care operation Care Malta and IT company 6pm – in which the group also has a shareholding – Emcare fuses both organisations’ expertise in healthcare and technology. One of 6pm’s major clients is the UK’s NHS.

Care Malta chief executive Natalie Briffa Farrugia explained that Emcare’s strategy centred on giving patients more independence to manage health conditions at home, and reducing the burden on hospital and clinical infrastructure.

The first phase will involve the launch of six services targeting different patient groups – backed by a round-the-clock call centre which opens on July 25 – and a doctors’ portal which will allow them to monitor data fed by patients’ devices. The services’ objective is to monitor conditions and does not involve diagnosis or analysis.

Just under €900,000 has been in­vested in systems development and integration and marketing so far. Around €800,000 will be channelled into acquiring and distributing medical home devices in the first year.

Devices include glucose meters, blood pressure monitors, peak flow meters for patients with respiratory conditions, and pulse oximeters for monitoring heart rhythms and blood oxygen levels. An elderly and special needs package allows older or vulnerable people to live independently. Unusual circumstances detected by devices trigger alerts to the call centre for action to be taken immediately in case of extreme temperature, no motion, smoke, panic or falls. Data transmitting-weighing scales and ear thermometers are also available.

“It is very important that the medical community understands how Emcare’s services work and that they do not replace the professionals,” Ms Briffa Farrugia told The Sunday Times. “It gives them more eyes and ears. We are marketing to all professions, including doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists. The cost to patients depends on the number of services required but could start from under €2 a day.”

Emcare business development manager Josephine Xuereb, a midwife, is relishing the challenge of heralding a culture change among patients and GPs as the project gets off the ground.

She explained how patients can subscribe to the service by registering at www.emcare360.com.mt to create a profile with their key medical information. Patients order devices for home delivery on­line, and authorise doctors and family members’ access to their profile.

During Em­care’s initial stages, patients may choose a doctor or ask their GP to subscribe to the platform. Ms Xuereb is confident professionals will come on board quickly as they learn of its advantages.

“We are a medium between the devices, the results, and the doctor,” she added. “Patients must buy a hub which communicates via Bluetooth with the patient’s blood pressure monitor, for instance, and then transmits data to the profile on the portal over the patient’s internet connection or Wifi. Through their accounts, GPs can look up their patients’ data to monitor readings. They can then contact the patients, carers or parents if there are matters which require attention.”

Ms Xuereb said data protection measures have been roped into the system, which also conforms to the EU’s draft e-health code of practice.

Ms Briffa Farrugia, a gerontology professional, pointed out how Care Malta was conscious of its contribution to society. Vassallo Group constantly looks for opportunities in markets it operates in. Emcare form­ed part of its strategy to diversify its elderly and healthcare portfolio.

The venture is modelled on platforms present in overseas markets for several years, usually managed by health authorities. Ms Briffa Farrugia said a private sector initiative brought many advantages – accessible pricing was a key factor, influenced by efficiencies on one hand and service standards on the other.

The Malta project will serve as a pilot study before attempts are made at exporting it.