TeleMedicine Cluster 
The use of ICT in care by a health care consumer, client, or patient contributes to the self care and management of his or her disease. These telemedicine applications support a care process in which:
1. Distance is covered by the use of information technology and telecommunications,
2. There are at least two players, one of which at least one is acting under the responsibility of a registered caregiver (the other is of course the client).
Mr. Peter Ragetlie of the Ictus group, would like to start a TeleMedicine cluster to accelerate telemedicine applications and would like to discuss with you the possibility to join him in this cluster: he states:
In 2009, the application of telemedicine in the Netherlands is very limited. They are used in pilot projects as far as financing is continued. Sometimes it is an 'add on' to the existing care process (additional, not as substitute of – part of – the delivered care), but nowhere a large-scale deployment of telemedicine products is to be found.
I believe I share this experience with more of you. Is it possible to improve on this lack of performance? My proposal is cooperation between companies with telemedicine applications.
In fact, there is a lot to gain if someone with a chronic disease is trying to avoid the unwelcome effects as much as possible. In medical terms "using secondary prevention".
I note in talks with caregivers that this aspect of care more or less is neglected. " This (preventive) care is inadequately provided by healthcare professionals (often mentioned is the lack of capacity to deliver such care"), and only when it is too late, as the unwished symptoms of the disease are visible, action is undertaking in the course of regular healthcare delivery.
Telemedicine helps patients to monitor the ongoing of their disease. And enables them to take the necessary action – with or without qualified advice –in making use of regular care if needed. But remains unsuccessful in penetrating the market. An often heard argument is ‘validity’ has not yet been proven sufficiently.
While a lot can be gained in both quality of care for the patient care and significant saving of costs for the Government. The gathered data of monitoring by patients leads to new insights in effectiveness of care (the so-called "best experience "of patients).
As I have already asked: “Is it possible to improve on this lack of performance?"
Will bringing together the experience and working methods of the telemedicine vendors help? I think so, after all, each telemedicine vendor faces the same problems.
With a mutual cooperation:
- the market approach can be more effective,
- the necessary service around the delivery of a telemedicine application can be organized;
- all kinds of developments can be followed, such as the setting of standards,
- joint participation in a subsidized program, such as IPC, zorg IPC, etc.
And other matters of importance can be dealt with within the mutual cooperation.
I propose to organize within the Lifeteczone community a separate Cluster Telemedicine.
The cluster TeleMedicine shall promote of use of telemedicine applications in care by patients. And supports the process of “care deliverance on distance, time and/or function".
A collaboration of companies with telemedicine products for telemedicine shall both strengthen the individual company as well as each other participating company.
For more information please contact mr Peter Ragetlie of the ICTUS group directly at:
Drs. P. L. Ragetlie
ICTUS Group bv
Schommerveld 25
5751 EA Deurne
email: ragetlie@ictus.nl
Mob: 31612144123
www.ictus.nl