By Professor Stephen Moore
Anglia Ruskin University and a consortium of ten SMEs, academic institutions, heath partnerships and charitable organisations from across Europe have won a €4.2 million research grant to help people with mild dementia to better manage their condition, as well as better support carers.
As Europe’s population lives longer, a growing number of its people face some form of dementia. This has increased the need for integrated care and support for patients of mild dementia, helping to extend independent living for patients and increase their quality of life. Carers who can draw on little support must also be considered. The impact on those who look after dementia sufferers is both emotional and physical.
To add to this, there is the burgeoning expense to the healthcare system. It is estimated that it will cost in the region of €160 billion annually across Europe to manage dementia care.
says Stephen Moore, Professor of Healthcare Policy at Anglia Ruskin.
The answer, the consortium believes, lies in adapting existing smart technology, called MIAMI (Medical Intelligence for Assistive Management Interface).
MIAMI is a patient intelligence and support ecosystem that works on tablets, smart phones and web browsers and alongside SMS text messaging. As a single portal, it can store healthcare data and offers a real-time system that captures and correlates the patient’s mental and physical well-being at various times and dates. MIAMI’s interface has been designed to be easy to use, combining a simple lay-out with clear instructions for use. Building on this system, MIAMI MD (Mild Dementia) encompasses a holistic approach to dementia healthcare – integrating primary, secondary, community and pharmacy care.
MIAMI MD communicates with Electronic Health Records (EHRs), and can share patient-specific data between healthcare professionals, such as GPs, psychiatrists, social care professionals and informal carers, upon patient consent. This can allow the development of a targeted and integrated treatment plan where multiple care providers can work closely and proactively to provide medication and care that are tailored to the individual patient’s needs.
says Professor James Hampton-Till, Deputy Dean of Anglia Ruskin University’s Faculty of Medical Science.
It is estimated that the research could save healthcare providers upwards of £1,500 per patient, per year. The research is running for four years and already the future is looking bright. Jean Geroges, Executive Director of Alzheimer Europe, a key partner in the project adds:
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