AI-supported home care for heart failure patients

What is the aim of the project on remote monitoring of patients with heart failure?

With heart failure, the weakened heart increasingly loses its ability to supply the body with enough blood and oxygen. In Switzerland, heart failure is a primary cause of hospital readmissions.

Affected patients who are cared for in their homes can increase their autonomy and sense of empowerment, for example by participating more actively in daily routines.

Medical devices monitor the patients’ cardiac function and continuously transmit the values to the treating specialists, thereby ensuring the continuity of therapy. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), the devices can predict health deterioration, allowing the healthcare team to respond promptly and adjust treatment and care plans accordingly.

The project conducted in the Réseau de l’Arc, a healthcare network in the Jura Arc, aims to assess the effectiveness of remote monitoring of heart failure patients.

Which institutions are involved in the project?

This is a pilot project of the new Swiss Center for Care@home (link to German site), which develops new models of healthcare at home under the leadership of BFH. In addition to the Réseau de l’Arc, the University of Bern and the Danish company WARD Project, which supplied the algorithms for the remote monitoring devices, are also involved.

How is the project conducted?

The study encompasses the entire treatment process for patients receiving care in their homes. The participating patients must meet specific medical criteria. This is checked by the emergency care services or the medical department of the Réseau de l’Arc at the Moutier and Saint-Imier sites.

What are the major challenges facing the project?

The main challenges have been the organisational changes and the integration of the device in the monitoring process of patients with heart failure. Several adjustments were necessary to make the system work.

How does the project benefit society?

Follow-up home care for patients with heart failure can help avoid hospital stays or reduce their duration. Treatment in a familiar environment improves the patients’ well-being and has a positive impact on their life situation.

The project examines whether the treatment process meets patients’ needs and whether it can fulfil the expectations of healthcare professionals.

What is the next step regarding the results of the project?

Based on the experience and data gathered, the project team plans to test the effectiveness of remote monitoring of patients with heart failure in a more extensive clinical study.