O2 bringing NFC to home health care
01 June, 2009
category: Contactless, Health, NFC
UK-based mobile communications provider O2 is demonstrating an NFC application that can be used by patients and home health care workers. The system is on display at the INSITE09 conference.
Developed in partnership with technology provider Reslink, O2 Homecare helps home health care workers and patients access and share information using contactless technology on a mobile phone. O2 and Reslink are working with ecoTECH, providers of Sustainable Homes, to incorporate NFC tags into their energy efficient housing.
The system enables home health care workers to download patient records and care requirements by swiping an NFC-enabled handset over NFC tags installed in the patient’s home. The solution also captures real-time information on care provided to the patient and logs the care workers’ whereabouts when making house calls for enhanced security.
Data is relayed to central host systems and logged for electronic time and attendance records. This eliminates the need for verbal or paper documentation and will help save care organisations time and operational expense
Patients can also use the system. O2 home health care patients can touch the mobile phone to a pre-installed NFC tag in the home to bring up details of their care worker’s next visit or their next medical appointment. Call backs and appointments can also be requested quickly and easily by touching the patient’s phone to an NFC tag. The patient can then select their preferred options from a drop down menu which will automatically appear on the handset.
Alert tags can be strategically placed within easy access to the patient in case of emergency. When the patient touches their mobile phone to this tag the handset will automatically send an alert transaction and dial a predetermined number.
NFC tags can also be placed on medicine bottles allowing patients to identify prescription details by touching their phone to the bottle. The tag may be linked to a special medication dispenser with a pre-set release capability and authorisation procedures based on the patient’s prescription.
In addition, NFC tags may be placed on equipment in the home, for example, the boiler, heating system, thermostat, oven and chairlift. The patient would simply need to touch their phone to the tag to bring up details such as the model type, when the product was last serviced, and by whom. The patient can also report a fault with the equipment or request a service appointment using their handset.
