Wireless gadgets to be the future of healthcare

Australian patients will soon have the ability to monitor their health and transmit the results via their mobile.

A range of wireless health monitoring devices were unveiled at Telstra' Experience Centre in Sydney, to demonstrate what could be the future of healthcare in Australia.

According to Telstra Business Group managing director Deena Shiff these devices will help lighten the load on the health system.

"Technology can transfer service delivery from the institution to the individual," Ms Shiff said.

"It's health care moving away from treating patients in hospitals to individuals using technology themselves to monitor their vital signs."

Some of the new devices included devices for measuring blood pressure and blood sugar levels developed by telecommunications company Alcatel which automatically transmit their results over the mobile phone network.

Measurements from each device are transmitted wirelessly via Bluetooth to a mobile phone, which are then sent to a centralised database.

The patient's general practitioner can receive regular updates via text or email, and be alerted if an unusual reading is recorded.

"Just as we've seen mobile phones come equipped with cameras and music players, expect the next wave of mobile phones to come equipped with health related gadgetry," Ms Shiff said.

Also on display was an electronic stethoscope which provides a detailed record of a patient's heart function and a video assistance centre that uses a television, web camera and set-top box, allowing carers to make virtual home visits to check on patients.

Ms Shiff said health care providers in rural and outback Australia were keen to use this type of technology.

"The earliest adopters of this technology has been regional nurses, carers and health care workers in remote locations," she said.

"The most advanced part of Australia in terms of e-health is the Northern Territory.

Some of the technology on display is expected to become available within the next 12 months.  

- Reuters