Can be independent longer
Norwegian health authorities agree that remote care and monitoring is here to stay. Municipalities are responsible for making it happen and the national government assists with guidance and financing.
This is a summary of a webinar that was held in January 2023: “Municipalities’ responsibility for remote care and monitoring”
“We see that remote care and monitoring lead to personal mastery,” says Elisabeth Djønne in the Norwegian Directorate of Health.
Norway tested remote care and monitoring in 2018-21. Experiences from the projects and meetings with municipalities, health authorities, general practitioners, and patients form a solid knowledge foundation.
Based on this knowledge foundation, the Norwegian Directorate of Health has three recommendations:
- Municipal health and care services should start offering remote care and monitoring.
- Before they begin, they should find collaborators in their health community.
- People with chronic conditions or who need long-term care, with medium to high risk of their health deteriorating, should be offered remote care and monitoring as a personalized service.
The goal is to establish remote care and monitoring programs in all 19 health communities by 2024. The programs will be collaborations between municipalities, general practitioners, and health authorities. For help getting started, projects can apply for funding as part of the Norwegian health and welfare technology program.
“166 municipalities have applied for funding. The high level of interest shows that people are aware that we need to find new ways to work in order to meet new challenges,” says Siw Helene Myhrer in the Norwegian Directorate of Health.
Projects receive guidance from health technology actors. In addition, government authorities have developed a quick start guide to remote care and monitoring.
Advice can also be found in the Norwegian e-health strategi for the health and care sector. The strategy supports the Norwegian Directorate of Health’s work.
“Where, when and how health and care services are implemented will be more in tune with citizens’ needs. This will contribute to better use of knowledge and resources,” says Kristin Bang in the Directorate of E-health.
Citizens’ needs are a core principle in projects that implement remote care and monitoring. Municipalities should map out needs in advance so that they can find good solutions. “Get the project started quickly on a small scale. Then test, evaluate and adjust,” concludes Myhrer.
Link to the webinar
Municipalities’ responsibility for remote care and monitoring