News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

December 12, 2020

Province Issues Request for Proposals to Support Remote Home Monitoring

– – –
Protecting Manitobans with New Service to Support Remote Monitoring for People Recovering from COVID-19 at Home, People with Chronic Conditions: Friesen

The Manitoba government is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to support remote home monitoring for COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital and Manitobans who are managing chronic conditions in the community, Health, Seniors, and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced today.
 
“As our hospitals continue to support the needs of Manitobans, we are introducing technologies that will ensure appropriate remote monitoring and support for those with COVID-19 who are either able to recover without hospital admission or who may be discharged to complete their recovery at home,” said Friesen. “The development of a provincial home monitoring program was a recommendation of our Clinical and Preventive Services Plan to support those with chronic conditions, and with COVID-19, we are leveraging this idea now to enhance support available to Manitobans.”

The provincial remote monitoring solution will build upon a Virtual Outpatient COVID Monitoring (VCOP) initiative based at Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg (HSC). VCOP provides service to patients with COVID-19 who have been discharged from HSC or referred to the program by an Alternative Isolation Accommodation (AIA) site. The initiative allows patients to connect regularly with a care team during their period of self-isolation or following discharge from hospital, and is able to support those who may require home oxygen during their recovery.

A VCOP physician will monitor the severity of each patient’s symptoms during regular virtual visits. If an individual’s symptoms worsen, a paramedic may be dispatched to check their vital signs or to complete blood work. In the case of severe symptoms, the VCOP team arranges transfer to an emergency department or urgent care centre to meet the patient’s escalating needs.

The RFP is seeking a proponent able to quickly implement the provincial service. Remote monitoring will support patients with COVID-19, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure, with the potential expansion of the service to those with Type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions.

“Improving our ability to discharge patients sooner with appropriate supports or to allow them to avoid admission to hospital where possible are important supports in preserving capacity for patients whose COVID-19 symptoms require hospitalization,” said Dr. Shaun Gauthier, chief medical officer, Prairie Mountain Health. “Not only will this initiative improve patient flow and increase our capacity to care for the sickest Manitobans during COVID-19, it will improve care for patients across Manitoba long after the pandemic has ended, allowing us to return patients home – or closer to home – sooner, while ensuring they are regularly monitored and have immediate access to care if their condition worsens.”

Remote monitoring was identified as a recommendation in Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan. The platform is used in many jurisdictions to monitor patients with low-acuity needs or chronic illness outside an acute-care setting, including many who are able to be supported at home. The initiative includes remote monitoring, virtual visits by a doctor and in-person visits by community supports.

In Manitoba, low-acuity COVID-19 patients and approximately 800 other Manitobans living with chronic disease are expected to be eligible for the program, which will both reduce the need for hospital admissions and support faster discharge of mild or moderately ill COVID-19 patients.

“Innovative solutions that support care closer to home not only increase accessibility and equity of care for patients throughout the province, they also improve patient flow and ensure that we continue to have the capacity to meet the needs of Manitobans during a period of high demand,” added Friesen.

The successful proponent will supply in-home biometric health devices to support monitoring an individual’s health status, including thermometers, pulse oximeters, scales, spirometer, and blood pressure monitor. The equipment will be used by patients who meet the criteria for remote monitoring. Information will be collected centrally for review by health care professionals and clinical and support staff to monitor results and communicate regularly with patients.

The RFP will be posted under an open tendering process, with proponents required to deliver a fully-functioning service within four weeks of the contract being awarded.

- 30 -