Advanced Remote Medical Services for Elderly Populations in Europe:

ARMS4elderly Launches to Revolutionize Elderly Care

In response to the growing healthcare challenges posed by Europe’s aging population, the ARMS4elderly project has been launched starting with May 1rst, 2024 to provide innovative remote medical care for the elderly. This pilot program aims to significantly reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, enhance patient outcomes, and optimize healthcare resources through the implementation of advanced telemedicine technologies.

Project Overview:

• Acronym: ARMS4elderly
• Project Title: Advanced remote medical services for elderly people – a pilot program focused on remote medical care for elderly populations in Europe aimed at reducing hospital admissions
• Project Duration: 24 months

Project Goals:

ARMS4elderly addresses the complex healthcare needs of elderly populations by integrating advanced remote medical care into traditional healthcare systems. The primary goal is to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions for elderly residents in nursing homes and other care facilities. The project will design new protocols for remote diagnosis and treatment, leveraging cutting-edge technology to ensure elderly patients receive high-quality medical care while remaining in their familiar surroundings.

Key Objectives:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive remote medical care program for elderly patients in nursing homes.
• Deploy advanced remote monitoring and diagnostic technologies.
• Establish effective systems for patient triage and risk stratification.
• Create evidence-based care protocols for managing common medical conditions remotely.
• Foster collaboration between hospitals, nursing homes, NGOs, and SMEs to ensure seamless, high-quality care.

Consortium Partners: The ARMS4elderly project is coordinated by Assuta Ashdod/Assuta Samson University Hospital (Israel) and includes the following partners:

• OUH Odense University Hospital (Denmark)
• Net-Medicare SRL (Italy)
• ROHEALTH Cluster (Romania)
• Mures County Clinical Hospital (Romania)

Pilot Program:

The project will be implemented through large-scale pilots in four countries, involving over 20 healthcare professionals from hospitals and nursing homes. The initiative will conduct a prospective, multi-center, international clinical study to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of remote hospital care for elderly patients as an alternative to hospitalization. ARMS4elderly will utilize remote monitoring devices that include sensors to detect vital signs, remote diagnostic devices to assess common medical conditions, and telemedicine platforms to facilitate consultations between doctors, caregivers and patients.

Expected Outcomes:

• Reduction in Hospital Admissions: Targeting a decrease in hospital admissions among elderly Europeans from 150 to 105 within the research period.
• Improved Patient Outcomes: Enhancing physical and mental health, recovery rates, quality of life, and reducing mortality.
• High Patient Satisfaction: Achieving high levels of patient satisfaction with remote care, measured by validated questionnaires such as the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Telemedicine Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQ).
• Clinical Staff Satisfaction: Reducing burnout and increasing job satisfaction among medical teams, measured by tools like the Nursing Work Index (NWI) and Physician Satisfaction Survey (PSS).
• Cost Savings: Achieving a 20% reduction in healthcare costs, resulting in an average saving of €4,800 per patient.
• Funding and Sustainability: The project is funded through the Horizon Europe program. To ensure long-term sustainability, the consortium will explore partnerships with public and private entities, as well as considering subscription-based business models for telemedicine services.

Relevance to Healthcare Challenges:

By 2050, 1 in 6 people globally will be over the age of 65, with the old age dependency ratio in Europe projected to reach 56.7%. The ARMS4elderly project aims to tackle the significant burden on healthcare systems caused by the increasing demand for medical services and long-term care for the elderly. By promoting preventive healthcare and leveraging telemedicine technologies, the project strives to improve patient outcomes, enhance care coordination, and reduce costs.

For more information about ARMS4elderly, please contact:

Project Coordinator: Assuta Ashdod / Assuta Samson University Hospital (Israel), email: gille@assuta.co.il

Communication and Dissemination Coordinator: ROHEALTH – The Health and Bioeconomy Cluster, e-mail: network@rohealth.ro