The Region of Southern Denmark (RSD) has a vision: health for all – where all citizens should have equal access to healthcare and be supported to live longer, healthier, and more independently. Consequently, RSD has a great focus on the roll-out and implementation of health technology, telemedicine, and assisted living solutions and services.

On the whole, investments in health technology and telemedicine are supported by an evaluation. This includes Health Technology Assessments (HTA) and Model for Assessment of Telemedicine (MAST). MAST was developed by RSD among others on behalf of the European Commission. With MAST at the core, decision makers can make an informed decision when it comes to the solutions and services up for investment and implementation. Examples include small solutions at the hospitals and large-scale projects such as the European project RENEWING HEALTH (REgioNs of Europe WorkINg toGether for HEALTH): a European project partially funded under the ICT Policy Support Programme, by the European Community. RENEWING HEALTH aims at implementing large-scale real-life test beds for the validation and subsequent evaluation of innovative telemedicine services using a patient-centred approach and a common rigorous assessment methodology, testing the Patient Briefcase.

The Patient Briefcase is a part of a telemedicine study enabling COPD patients access to live video consultations with a hospital nurse without leaving the comfort of their home. At discharge, the patients are provided with a Patient Briefcase, which is installed within 24 hours. The briefcase has a display for video communication and daily scheduled teleconsultations with the hospital nurses. Equipment for various measurements is included with just three user-friendly control buttons. After one week, the patient no longer needs the briefcase but continues to have permanent access to a telephone hotline for four weeks post discharge. RSD has a strong foundation for the implementation of assisted living technologies, as a result of its strong IT-infrastructure, standardized electronic messages between the sectors and Health Agreements that ensure better care for the citizens.

Using MAST and its different dimensions has secured a foundation for the Region’s future investments in telemedicine solutions.