The exhibition starts a series of events culminating in the NI-US Investment Conference, which will also have a strong healthcare technology focus.
Over 40 companies exhibited examples of services and devices developed to help patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure and respiratory disease.
Speaking at the opening of the event, Minister Michael McGimpsey said: “Today we can catch a glimpse of the future and see first hand how technology offers us the opportunity to deliver better quality of care in new ways.
“New technologies can help people to better manage their conditions. They can also improve the delivery of care and the way we use our resources, support a shift from hospital care to the community - bringing care closer to home and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.
“In January I announced a £46million investment for chronic disease management as well as a commitment to provide access to telemonitoring for 5,000 people by 2011.
“Work has already begun on this and managers and clinicians are working together through the European Centre for Connected Health to design the new system to maximize the potential of new technologies in the treatment of patients with diabetes, heart failure and respiratory disease.”
The Minister concluded: “There are some very impressive examples of how technology has been introduced which has made a huge impact on people’s lives. We will continue to build on this good work, so more people can benefit and more health care workers can become actively involved in this area as soon as possible.”
The Connected Health Expo Day was attended by the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Tevi. D. Troy who said: "The next three days will provide an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on working partnerships between the United States and Northern Ireland. I commend Minister McGimpsey and his Department for providing a forum that will ultimately bring benefits to health-care professionals and patients on both sides of the Atlantic."
Notes to Editors:
The purpose of today’s event was to allow healthcare clinicians and managers to see first hand the range of telemonitoring products and services available.
Telemonitoring involves the installation of equipment in people’s homes which can measure vital signs, such as blood pressure, oxygen levels and blood sugar levels, on a regular basis and transmit this information wirelessly, or down the telephone line, to a centre which monitors the individual’s readings and alerts the individual’s health care worker if there are any problems.
In January 2008, Minister Michael McGimpsey announced his intention to establish the European Centre for Connected Health to take forward the strategic design of new ways of working and the applications of new technologies.
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