Step 1: What is Technology Enabled Care?
Technology Enabled Care (TEC) means using technology to support people’s health, wellbeing, and independence wherever care is delivered. This can include tools and services that help people stay safe, manage health conditions, access support, and communicate with organisations or services, whether at home, in the community, in hospital, or in care settings. TEC can make a real difference by:
- Improving health and wellbeing for people and their carers
- Supporting independence and safety, so people feel more in control of their care
- Making communication easier between people and those who support them
- Capturing and sharing information more effectively, so care can be more personalised and responsive
TEC can benefit anyone
TEC can benefit anyone. It uses technology to enhance care and make life easier for the person receiving support and for the people supporting them.
| Watch |
To begin exploring what TEC is, watch this short video (6m 59s) |
| Reflective Question |
| Before you start this pathway, take a moment to think: How could TEC make things better for you, your team, or the people you support? |
Introduction
This section introduces four key types of TEC commonly used in health and social care. You'll also explore another important area, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how it's supporting care delivery.
- Remote Monitoring
- Telecare
- Virtual Appointments
- Digital Tools and Apps
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in TEC
While AI might not be a direct service like remote monitoring or telecare, it’s increasingly embedded across all types of digital tools and services. Understanding AI is essential for anyone working in health and social care today, as it is helping to shape how care is delivered, decisions are made, and services are designed. In the TEC pathway, we’ll provide a brief introduction to AI and its relevance within TEC. If you'd like to explore this topic in more detail, you can access the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Pathway developed to support deeper understanding.
Types of TEC
1. Remote Monitoring
Also known as: telehealth, telemedicine, home health monitoring, eHealth
People can use smartphones, tablet computers, text messages or equipment provided by services to record and share health information, such as blood pressure, heart rate or oxygen levels.
Remote monitoring can:
- Help people better understand and manage their own health
- Share information to assist staff and care teams in diagnosis, treatment and care planning
- Support early interventions when changes are detected
- Reduce the need for face-to-face visits
| Watch |
This short video (2m 33s) explains Connect Me, a service from NHS Scotland. It lets people use their own phone, tablet, or computer to safely share health information with healthcare professionals and automated monitoring services. Link: Introduction to Connect Me |
2. Telecare
Also known as: lifeline, alarm button, warden call, community alarm, activity monitoring
People can use Telecare equipment like fall detectors, wearable pendants (worn on the wrist of neck), pull cords or environmental sensors (such as smoke, gas, or temperature alarms) to send alerts to carers or monitoring centres who can respond quickly. In some cases, people can also use their own technology, like a smart speaker, too.
Telecare can:
- Keep people safe at home or other community settings, by alerting when help is required
- Provide peace of mind to families and care providers
- Support people to live independently for longer
- Help monitor daily activities to detect changes in wellbeing
| Watch |
This short video (5m 04s) explains what Telecare is and how it helps people stay safe at home and when out and about. Link: What is telecare? |
3. Virtual Appointments
Also known as: online appointments, video consulting, remote consulting or teleconsultation.
People can use smartphones, tablet computers, or desktop computers to contact health and social care staff through video tools like Near Me (NHS Scotland). This allows them to attend appointments from home or another convenient location without needing to travel.
If someone doesn't have their own device or a reliable internet connection, they can use publicly funded community hubs across Scotland. These hubs offer private, secure spaces with good internet access for making video calls.
Virtual appointments can:
- Make attending appointments easier, more convenient and secure
- Support care reviews, follow-ups, and ongoing care
- Help staff and services in different places work together through remote team meetings
- Save time and reduce the need to travel to busy clinics, hospitals or care settings
| Watch |
This short video (1m 50s) explains Near Me, a safe and easy video calling service from NHS Scotland. It lets people use their own phone, tablet, or computer to have appointments with NHS staff, local council services, or third sector organisations from anywhere convenient for them. Link: Introduction to Near Me |
4. Digital Tools and Apps
Also known as: mobile apps, online services, mHealth, wearables
People can use smartphones, tablet or desktop computers, and wearables (such as smartwatches), to access health and social care information and services. This can be done easily and safely, at a time and place that suits them.
Digital tools and apps can:
- Help people stay informed and involved in their care and wellbeing
- Include apps for things like wellbeing support, booking appointment, and checking test results
- Use wearables to track steps, sleep, heart rate and hydration
- Make it easier for people to notice changes in their daily life and take action sooner
| Watch |
This short video (4m 09s) explains different digital tools that can help people manage their health and wellbeing. It includes examples like health apps and online services. The video explains how technology can make care safer, easier to access, and help people stay more independent. Link: Digital Health and Care - Technology Supporting People Animation 1: Bridget |
5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in TEC
Also known as: Machine learning, intelligent systems, data-driven intelligence, automation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) means systems or technology that can do tasks that usually need human thinking. This includes things like learning from data, spotting patterns, or making suggestions. AI might not always be visible, but it is used more and more in many digital tools and services in health and social care.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can:
- Help professionals make faster and more accurate decisions
- Power chatbots and virtual assistants that help people find information or get the right care
- Analyse data from wearables or remote monitoring to spot early warning signs
- Personalise care by predicting needs or suggesting treatments
- Automate repetitive tasks, giving professionals more time for direct care
AI is not a tool on its own, but a powerful part of many types of technology used in health and social care, from remote monitoring to digital health apps.
| Watch |
This short, animated video (4m 09s) explains how artificial intelligence (AI) works, where it is used, and how it affects our daily lives. Link: What is AI? |
Want to learn more about AI in health and social care?
Explore the AI Pathway on Turas Learn and gain confidence in understanding this growing area of health and social care.
Reflect on What You Have Learned
You’ve explored four key types of Technology Enabled Care (TEC) commonly used in health and social care, along with a brief introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Before you move on, take a few minutes to think about what you’ve learned and how it could be useful in your work or for the people you support.
To help with this, there are two short activities:
| Read |
This short article by Claire Wardle published by The Access Group (10-minutes read) about what technology enabled care is and why it is important for people, their families and the local community. |
