Fast growing IT organisation Microtech Group has acquired telehealth technology provider TeleHealth Solutions to expand its range of self-care services to help UK health and social care organisations and their patients manage long-term conditions.
Microtech, which already offers user-friendly telecare solutions for GP surgeries and supported housing, can now offer innovative telehealth services that mean care providers can monitor people's health remotely. The acquisition will allow NHS and local authority commissioners to access a full service offering for telehealth and telecare support contracts in one place.
Amongst the products within the TeleHealth Solution’s portfolio is HomePod, an intuitive touchscreen device which enables people to be monitored for health changes from where they live, and SurgeryPod, a touchscreen device for patients to record information such as weight, height, blood pressure prior to their GP or hospital appointment.
Chris McMail, managing director at Microtech Group, said: "We are continuing to enhance upon our core competencies, and by TeleHealth Solutions joining our group, we are developing huge opportunities to make a real difference for patients looking to take control of their conditions. The technologies we have inherited will also help busy clinicians and give GPs more time to care."
Bringing telehealth and telecare together is becoming a clear priority for the technology that will underpin the move towards integrated health and social care, and address the growing burden of long-term conditions through greater self-care and assisted living.
For example, in England alone, approximately 15 million people are living with a long-term conditions. The Department of Health estimates, along with co-morbidities, these may require £5 billion additional health and social care expenditure by 2018. The department's Integrated Care: Our Shared Commitment framework cites reduced mortality rates and lower emergency hospital admissions as examples of where these technologies delivered significant benefits. Scotland is making great strides in out-of-hospital care: the Government's Technology Enabled Care programme will double the number of people receiving home health monitoring by 2016.
"With economic pressures continuing to increase across health and social care budgets, technology is playing an ever-important role to help drive efficiency and improve care," said Pete Kerly, managing director at TeleHealth Solutions.
"Demand for out-of-hospital care and the rise in technology adoption has seen telehealth and telecare become a popular choice for many providers. I believe that our expertise and experience within these fields, coupled with Microtech's IT support and delivery capabilities, provides a strong offering for commissioners looking to help health populations manage long-term conditions and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases," continued Kerly.
In addition to its web- and TV-based telecare services, Microtech offers customised IT solutions such as installing applications, networking and security to a range of maintenance services throughout Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England.
Microtech's Group Managing Director Chris McMail sees the acquisition as a logical progression for the company. He said: "We've been growing rapidly in recent years, especially within the healthcare arena, working with all health boards and GP surgeries in Scotland as well as health providers across the rest of the UK. This is a great opportunity to offer an increased range of services that can help meet more of the needs of their patient and clients."
TeleHealth Solutions was acquired from Moonray Healthcare, and will continue to operate under its current name as part of the Microtech Group. The Microtech Group will become responsible for TeleHealth’s current customers, which include Surrey County Council and NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
In addition to the acquisition, which took place on 26th June 2015, Microtech will use its experience of providing remote technical solutions and Medvivo’s clinical and integration expertise in a new strategic partnership.
This is the latest acquisition for Microtech continuing the planned growth for the group who will continue to build its core competencies through further acquisitions.
About TeleHealth Solutions Ltd
Telehealth Solutions, founded in 2006, is pioneering telehealth with high-quality, low-cost systems available for use in GP surgeries and pharmacies as well as within other institutions, commercial premises and private homes. Telemedicine is an emerging health opportunity, which utilises ever-improving technology enabling clinicians to have rapid access to medical data through telecommunications and information technology.
Telehealth Solutions provides a new self-monitoring service for patients. Capable of interfacing with GP systems, this flexible solution assists in enhancing the efficiency of a GP's surgery, allowing more time to be spent on high-value work and improving the service to patients. Telehealth Solutions can deliver an unprecedented level of efficiency and accuracy to doctors. The Telehealth Solutions products comprise a selection of vital sign collection devices including: weight scales, peak flow meter, thermometer, pulse oximeter, blood pressure meter, ECG, blood sugar and INR testers.
About Microtech Group
Microtech Group is an IT sales and support organisation. Established in 1986 they have been providing services to the public, private and third sector organisations’ for over 28 years and have resources located throughout Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England.
Microtech services and support infrastructure form an integral part of NHS Scotland’s IT strategy and policy. Microtech also has the National Agreement in Scotland for the deployment of electronic document transfer (EDT) Hubs to each of the health boards. Microtech have a number of national contracts in support of a variety of service provisions.