Since 2014, Dignio has been working in close collaboration with Oslo municipality to develop connected care services across the city through a series of projects supported by the Norwegian Directorate of Health.

These projects have used connected care solutions to improve the lives and health of patients with long-term conditions such COPD, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Independent research has demonstrated significantly improved patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Population: Patients receiving regular, community-based care at home for their long-term conditions. These include patients with one or multi-comorbidities, such as COPD, diabetes, hypertension, Parkinson's disease, heart failure and cancer. Projects have also included patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment.

Intervention: Traditionally, Oslo asked community nurses to make home-visits to patients with long-term conditions. Dignio’s solution is now used to monitor the health and wellbeing of patients, to improve their understanding of their condition, and to enable them to manage their own condition where appropriate.

Patients use the MyDignio app to answer questionnaires and to submit readings from bluetooth integrated devices, including electronic medication dispensers, blood glucose monitors, pulse oximeters, spirometers, blood pressure monitors, thermometers, weighing scales and patient alarms. Providers monitor these inputs using the Dignio Prevent clinical platform and intervene as necessary.

- COPD patient

Outcomes: A national study, VIS (link click here), carried out on behalf of the Norwegian Directorate of Health showed that six months after the introduction of the intervention, the number of outpatient consultations had decreased by 42% while hospital admissions had reduced by 32%. The average number of emergency department attendances per month per patient was reduced by over 50%.

The number of home visits decreased by 34% and the face-to-face time spent by nurses was reduced by 59%. There was an estimated 42% reduction in average costs per end user per year. Qualitative interviews with patients revealed high levels of user satisfaction, reassurance and empowerment.

– COPD patient aged 71

Watch this video from the Municipality of Oslo:

See list of videos created by Oslo from the project:

Karl (72), COPD patient - link (in English) link (in Norwegian)

Barbro (78), heart disease - link (in Norwegian)

Trygve Sverre (92), COPD - link (in Norwegian)