The ability to remain independent and at home is a major concern for patients suffering from mental illness. The Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) is working on a pilot project to demonstrate how telecommunications can complement current homecare programs to improve the quality of care for patients, while also making the homecare system more efficient and economical.

The Remote Assertive Community Homecare program, or REACH, uses satellite broadband technology to connect patients requiring daily supervision with care providers from Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs. The technology allows ACT staff to supervise the taking of medication and monitoring of the patient’s health remotely. The patients thus receive the treatment they need while remaining in the comfort of their home environment. By using technology to supplement in-person visits, travel time and costs are reduced, allowing the ACT staff to support more patients than would otherwise be possible.

The pilot project involved approximately 20 patients in the area of Woodstock, Ontario who have had their homes outfitted with a computer, health-monitoring software, an interactive touch-screen monitor and a video conference link. The system is also equipped with other remote devices, such as a wireless weight scale and a blood pressure monitoring device. Readings from these devices are sent back to the ACT team member for monitoring.

The pilot project, led by Telesat and funded by the Canadian and European Space Agencies, involved partnerships with Infosat Communications, Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ontario, Peel Corporation, VaaSah Inc and CRC. CRC has been supporting this important initiative since its beginning in 2004 by contributing its expertise in satellite communications systems. Staff have gone to patient’s homes to setup the satellite connections and have provided training to the ACT members on the use of the technology.

To date, the majority of patients and ACT staff have been very pleased with the new system and have found that it has made a significant difference in the amount of time spent for their daily check-ins. The project was scheduled to be completed in January, at which point the potential for deploying this new technology on a broader scale will be evaluated by an independent third party.