Rapid evaluations

The focus of DECIDE is on technology-enabled remote monitoring, which involves the use of
technology, devices or apps to support patients to actively monitor and manage their health or long-
term conditions (e.g. heart failure, COPD), and enables the remote exchange of information,
primarily between a patient or service user and a health or care professional, to assist in diagnosing
or actively monitoring health or care status or promoting good health and care.

Remote exchange is typically supported by consultations or other interactions (e.g. messaging) that
enable sense-making of that information, enabling systematic review and monitoring, accompanied
by (where needed) changes in the care being received.

Examples include using apps, personal or medical gadgets (e.g. activity trackers, pulse oximeters,
heart monitors) to support active and systematic review and monitoring of health and care; ‘virtual
ward services’ to monitor, review and support care at home; smartphones to share and review vital
sign readings (e.g. blood pressure) with care providers.

Remote monitoring is being tested and used across the UK for many conditions (e.g. elderly and frail
care, diabetes, respiratory and heart diseases). It has the potential to improve care quality and
service user experience, prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital and A&E, reduce length of stay
in hospitals, prevent infection transmission and allow people to access care safely, at a suitable time
and location.

There is much we do not know about whether different types of remote monitoring work as
intended; when they work and for whom, why and how; how they can be appropriately spread
across health and care services, and what is needed to make sure they are helpful and do not
disadvantage access to and quality of care for some people.

There is an urgent need to rapidly assess (i.e. evaluate) promising remote monitoring practices
quickly and accurately, to answer these questions.