Remote Patient Management for Emerging Geographical Areas.

Abstract

The increase in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide is of great concern for many countries and has become a worldwide public health problem, which puts a burden on medical healthcare resources. The geographic variation of ESRD has been observed both locally and globally. Greater distance care facilities may impede timely delivery of good quality care and consequently increase the risk of mortality as well as decreased health-related quality of life. Patients living in remote and rural areas could use peritoneal dialysis (PD) as a home-based and economical therapy option. However, morbidity and mortality in PD patients at remote region have been reportedly increasing. Monitoring and managing PD patients living in remote or underserved areas is a big challenge. The establishment and practice of PD satellite center model in China for the management of remote PD patients are a concern for peer professionals across the world. With the support of remote PD center programs, such as the PD satellite center model and telehealth and so on, home PD therapy have further enhanced the PD technology, patient management exercised by quality PD centers, which accordingly benefit more ESRD patients who live in remote areas. Such PD programs can mitigate patients' financial, travel and healthcare pressure and to a certain extent improve the outcomes of these PD patients. Further research is needed to explore more interventions in the management of remote PD patient and better understand the factors that affect the success of these interventions.