The focus of TIQUE is on the transformation of AHF healthcare through a shift towards a truly integrated patient-centred value-based model of care, made possible by the development and adoption of new and cutting-edge technologies.
The implementation of the TIQUE Model of AHF Healthcare is envisioned as supported by a 'Virtual Care Centre' (VCC) that facilitates the delivery of health services to meet the needs of each patient. The TIQUE model itself requires technology-enabled services that facilitate integrated planning of care, communication between stakeholders, monitoring of patients’ status in real-time, advancing the ability to predict and prevent health crises and hospital admissions, and empowering patients and/or carers to become active participants in their own treatment and care.
From the analysis of best practices, it would appear that the market for digitally integrated care is in the relatively early stages of development. The field of cardiology has been a leader in the area of eHealth, both in terms of policy and practice and has promoted telemedicine and telecare including disease management services, remote patient monitoring, teleconsultations, and homecare.
A review of the current state of the art as well as emerging trends in caring for patients with Advanced Heart Failure reveals the lack of and need for solutions in the following areas:
1. Solutions for interfacing with other patient data systems, integrating and managing patient data from disparate data systems
2. User-friendly solutions for easy access to integrated patient data from the regular digital working environment
3. Solutions providing rule-based and AI-based decision support systems
4. Solutions providing already validated AI algorithms, to predict and early detect potential problems that can then be prevented or optimally managed.
5. Solutions for collaboration, cooperation and communication among all of the stakeholders
6. Solutions for remote patient monitoring from devices, wearables, mobile apps, environmental sensors and patient input that are integrated with existing patient information
7. Solutions for patient empowerment providing patients access to their own medical information
8. Coaching solutions for patients using virtual assistants that combine machine learning, artificial intelligence strong decision support systems, leverage big data, natural language processing and voice recognition.
9. Solutions for facilitating organizational change as well as changes in care processes and professional attitudes
Collaboration, coordination and communication among health and care professionals and with the patient and carers; and partnership with patients facilitating empowerment, and co-management of the care are at the heart of the TIQUE Solution.
In the TIQUE model tender documents and specifically the challenge brief, the concept of the 'Virtual Care Centre' (VCC) and functional and non-functional requirements were planned and characterized in light of the nine above-mentioned areas requiring solutions beyond the current state of the art.
The evaluation of the bids submitted in response to the tender will rely heavily on the extent to which the proposed solutions take into account emerging trends and advance digitally-enabled integrated care for Advanced Heart Failure patients and their families beyond the state of the art.
