Researchers at the University of Missouri in Columbia are using in-home motion sensors to not only monitor older adults, but are also syncing that information to hospitals to provide comprehensive health information.
The motion sensors are able to detect falls and track walking patterns and vital signs. By linking the data between homes and hospitals, healthcare providers can potentially observe changes in health status and preemptively reach out to individuals who may require extra care.
"In the system we're developing, the home and hospital devices would be interconnected, which would allow more coordinated care with lower risk of complications," said Marjorie Skubic, professor of electrical and computer engineering in the MU College of Engineering, in a news release. "As patients transfer between care units, sensor data are automatically delivered to their bedsides by the integrated healthcare platform. When patients return home, the system continues to track their activity, behaviors and vital signs and send alerts if health changes are detected."
The integrated motion sensors also have the potential to save on excess healthcare costs by reducing both admissions and readmissions, Ms. Skubic said in the news release. "By streamlining the healthcare operation into a cohesive system, we will save costs, provide better care, and achieve improved health outcomes," she said.
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