A systems approach to achieving CarerNet-an integrated and intelligent telecare system

Abstract

The system requirements for an integrated telecare system are presented by using a modification of the CORE methodology. The resulting system model uses viewpoint analysis to establish the needs and requirements of both the client and the care providers within a system context and discusses the implications for a user-centered, technology-based solution referred to as "CarerNet." The implementation of CarerNet is considered in terms of the enabling technologies required within the local environment of the client and identifies the monitoring, networking requirements, and system intelligence necessary to the provision of a comprehensive telecare service. A hypothetical case study based on patient aftercare following discharge from the hospital is presented to illustrate the points discussed.

Telemonitoring of patients at home: a software agent approach

“…A Local Area Network (LAN) is required for connecting the various sensors and medical devices to the home computer hosting the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) [17]. The LAN can be of wired, wireless or mixed type, as it is the case in our study.…”

“…A number of pilot projects on 'smart' homes and intelligent telemonitoring for homecare purpose have been conducted in recent years, such as CarerNet [17,23], MIDAS, and AID HOUSE [16] in Great-Britain, TIISSAD [24] and PROSAFE (http://www.laas.fr/PROSAFE/) in France, the project of Celler et al [25 Á/27] in Australia, HAT [28] in USA, several Japanese projects [18,29,30], SmartBo [15] and the project of Lind et al [31] in Sweden, the VITAL-HOME project (http:// www.biomed.ntua.gr/vital_home/), and the 'smart' model house [32] in the Netherlands. In France, Chan et al [33,34] realized and experienced a hospital 'smart' room for elderly people with neurological diseases.…”

Web-based telemedicine systems for home-care: technical issues and experiences

“…However, the increasing need of hospital-at-home services, including continuous monitoring of patients with hearth and renal failure and the home monitoring of oncologic patients, implies the use of new technologies for transforming the patients' home in a so-called ''smart home'' [40]. In a smart home a home LAN connects medical monitoring devices, therapeutic devices and other sensors and a ''body-hub'', that collects and dispatches data from all personal systems (e.g.…”

A Review of Smart House Analysis Methods for Assisting Older People Living Alone

“…CarerNet, also developed in the United Kingdom, can be summarized as a Smart House "to improve and enhance the quality of life of the elderly and the disadvantaged by the utilization of technology in support of their ability to function independently within their local environment" [40]. CarerNet collects physiological data, determines the patient's lifestyle and environmental awareness through the use of several devices such as thermometer, Infra-red (IR) badges, Electrocardiography (ECG), galvanic skin response, among others.…”