Chapter 1: The Changing World of Healthcare
Ron is a 72-year-old man who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He has been given digital monitoring devices that allow him to monitor his blood oxygen levels, blood pressure and temperature at an agreed time each day. Using his mobile phone and a digital device his readings are sent to a ‘virtual’ ward each day. If the results are outside of normal values, then a specialist nurse or doctor is alerted. One morning Ron is feeling particularly breathless and has a productive cough. He sends his readings as normal and later that morning receives a phone call from the one of the team of nurse specialists who monitor the virtual ward who after discussing how he is feeling suggests he needs to be seen by his GP to get antibiotics and will contact his GP to organise.