Body Sensor Networks for Mobile Health Monitoring: Experience in Europe and Australia

Abstract

Remote ambulatory monitoring is widely seen as playing a key part in addressing the impending crisis in health care provision. We describe two mobile health solutions, one developed in the Netherlands and one in Australia. In both cases patients' biosignals are measured by means of body worn sensors which communicate wirelessly with a handheld device. Alarms and biosignals can be transmitted over wireless communication links to a remote location, and a remote health professional can view the biosignals via a web application. The clinical purposes are similar, however the technological approaches differ in some respects. We compare the two approaches and the experience gained working with a number of different patient groups and clinical specialties during trials in Europe and Australia.