Partner study: remote monitoring of symptoms for people receiving palliative care

People with advanced illness frequently experience significant symptoms which often fluctuate and may worsen. Many people are uncertain what to do if symptoms change, how to seek help, or who to contact, and many will wait until their next scheduled doctors appointment maybe leading to distress while waiting, or even the need for an emergency department visit.

The PARTNER study has established a program of remote symptom monitoring for people receiving palliative care thereby enabling them to alert their clinical teams of escalating symptoms using their smart phone. The pilot implementation study conducted at Royal Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Hospitals seeks to establish the feasibility and acceptability of the processes and systems, as well as document the impact upon patient care and experience.