Health care technologies and working with rural communities

Paramedics are conversant when working with people who live in rural communities, they know the challenges associated with the provision of care to these populations, they are also skilful when working with a variety of information technologies. This insight will help them develop service provision even further.

There are millions of people all over the UK who are living with a variety of long-term conditions or disability. Living with long-term health conditions can have a massive impact on the lives of those people, their families, those who offer care to them as well as the amount of money spent on services provided. Delivering care to those communities who live in more rural areas of the country adds to the complexity of managing long-term conditions. Taking health care to the consumer (the patient) through telehealth and telecare using telemedical tools can help to overcome this challenge; introducing telehealth means helping people in new ways. It can offer regular monitoring of the person's condition, appropriate and personalised responses, along with enhanced support.