Resident in Drammen, Norway develops digital health monitoring app for home use

Marit Hamkoll, a resident of Drammen, Norway, has found a way to conduct her own health checks at home, eliminating the need for visits from home care services. Utilizing a mobile app, she receives notifications to measure her blood pressure and oxygen levels, which she can complete in just five minutes.

The app guides her through the process, indicating specific times for these tasks, such as measuring her vital signs indoors at 11 AM. As a result, what once required the attention of a healthcare professional has now been streamlined into a quick personal routine.

Drammen, alongside Lier and Asker, is one of the pioneering municipalities in Norway experimenting with digital home care for residents who voluntarily participate in this initiative. The introduction of digital health monitoring allows home care services to devote more time to those in greater need.

Sudhir Sharma, head of home care services in Drammen, believes that the elderly population will soon embrace digital solutions. He emphasizes that future planning must cater to a more tech-savvy generation rather than the current users.

For nearly a year, Marit Hamkoll and others have been able to perform their daily health measurements independently. The app automatically records the results and sends them to Drammen’s nursing team. If any readings fall outside normal ranges, the team is alerted to conduct a health assessment.

Hamkoll describes the system as reassuring, enabling her to maintain her independence. She acknowledges that this digital tracking has sparked a newfound interest in her health, likening her engagement with daily monitoring to becoming a “nerd.” She now closely tracks her blood pressure, currently at 146 over 90, and oxygen levels at 91, and she finds the system’s efficiency appealing.