Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a debilitating progressive motor neuron disease that targets, and destroys, the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain of a patient. These two parts of the human body have complete control over the muscles throughout a person’s entire body. As a result, as these nerves are destroyed, a patient suffering from ALS will eventually lose all muscle function due to the inability of the brain to send any impulses to them.
ALS is the most prevalent motor neuron disease, with a worldwide annual incidence of about 1.9 per 100,000 population. (US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health) New Zealand has the highest rate in the world since as far back as 2008 when it was at 1.6-3.3 per 100,000 population, and where it was found that the rate was increasing at 3% a year for 22 years. Unfortunately, there is no cure for ALS, only medical treatments that may slow its progression.
Digital healthcare tools like Care.Wallet can help patients to be better informed about how to live with ALS, risks to their health, treatment plans, and lifestyle choices to improve quality of life by having access to them readily available. Physicians will be able to provide better help and education to a wider audience, without the barriers of geography.
“In New Zealand, the waiting time for a neurology consultation could be more than a year. We currently have 36 full-time equivalent neurologists, but according to our estimates we need 86 full-time equivalent neurologists,” said Professor Valery Feigin, director of the National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences at Auckland University of Technology and co-chair of the GBD’s neurology section
Care.Wallet is a powerful tool that has the ability to have everything patients may need for successfully managing their health. If experiencing unexpected symptoms, a patient can book an appointment with a few clicks directly in the App. If a patient needs a ride to the facility, Care.Wallet has got them covered with a medical transportation solution embedded. If it’s not possible to have an in-office visit, Care.Wallet allows for booking online appointments via Global Telehealth Exchange.
With Care.Wallet the patient doesn’t have to worry about preparing for the appointment, as all their previous medical records are securely stored in their Care.Wallet and can be shared with all members of their care team in real-time. On top of that, Care.Wallet allows for symptom recording and management. Armed with all the necessary information, medical professionals can better evaluate the health condition of the patient and diagnose the problem. Prescriptions and referrals can be easily managed within the App as well. Care.Wallet has a comprehensive feedback function, called “How Are You Feeling Today” (HAYFT) Cards, that allows the patient to stay in touch with their care provider and report any changes to their health condition. In addition, the Care.Circle functionality provides an opportunity for the patient to have health information exchanged between all care professionals involved in their treatment. Family and friends can be invited to join their Care.Circle, as well to support the patient in their recovery and stay updated about their current health situation.
Care.Wallet is a powerful health management tool designed to offer a new improved standard of care and will improve the way healthcare works by putting patients in control of their health management. If you enjoyed this article, do take a look at our previous article Epilepsy in Brazil.N
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