Step 3: What are the benefits of Technology Enabled Care?
Technology Enabled Care (TEC) is already making a difference across Scotland. It helps people stay independent, supports the workforce, and reduces pressure on services. In this step, you’ll explore the many ways TEC can benefit individuals, staff, and the wider health and care system.
Benefits
Benefits for People
TEC brings real benefits to people receiving care and support.
Here are some of the ways it can help:
- Greater independence, choice, and control
- Feeling safer and more supported at home
- Less pressure on family members and unpaid carers
- Better self-management of health and wellbeing
- Faster hospital discharges and fewer readmissions
- Fairer access to care, especially in rural or remote areas
As people’s needs continue to change, TEC gives new options for staying well, supported, and more in control of everyday life.
Benefits for You (as staff or volunteers)
TEC is not just for the people you support, it can also make your work easier, more effective, and more rewarding.
Here are some of the ways it can help:
- Make more informed and timely decisions using real-time data
- Communicate more easily with colleagues and teams
- Access up-to-date information quickly
- Reduce the need to travel for meetings or reviews
- Use simpler, smarter tools to support recovery and wellbeing
- Improve job satisfaction through more efficient ways of working
As demands on health and care services grow, more staff are exploring how technology can help them work differently and more effectively.
| Read |
This article by Pritish Mistry from The King’s Fund (15-minute read) is a chance to reflect on how technology could support your role and make a positive difference for the people you work with. Link: The reality of, and potential for, digitally enabled care in the community |
Benefits by Type of TEC
Different types of TEC have their own benefits.
Understanding these can help you choose the right support for the people you work with, and feel more confident using TEC in your role or organisation.
■ Remote Monitoring
People can use their own simple devices, like a mobile phone, to share information with health and care staff or automated monitoring services. This helps them safely manage their health from home or wherever is most convenient for them.
| Example |
Scotland’s remote blood pressure monitoring programme has helped avoid an estimated 400,000 GP visits. It shows how TEC can make care more accessible, reduce pressure on services, and support people to take control of their health in a convenient and effective way because they could check and manage their blood pressure without needing to travel or wait for an appointment. (Source: Scottish Government) |
How remote monitoring helps:
- Spot health problems early to prevent hospital stays
- Reduce routine check-ups
- Help people manage long-term conditions with confidence
- Support quicker decisions by health and care professionals
Why this matters:
Remote monitoring, like the support offered through Scotland’s Connect Me service, helps people understand their health better and feel more in control. It supports people to manage their own health conditions at home. It also helps health and care staff take early action when something changes. This can lead to better health, fewer unnecessary appointments, and less pressure on busy health and care services especially for people with long-term conditions.
Want to learn more?
| Read |
This short news article published by the Scottish Government (2-minute read) about the blood pressure monitoring programme. |
| Resources |
Learn more about how remote monitoring is being used across Scotland through these resources:
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■ Telecare
People can use telecare devices like fall detectors, personal alarms, and smoke sensors to stay safe at home. These devices can alert family members, carers, or emergency services if someone needs help. This technology gives peace of mind and quick support, helping people live independently for longer.
| Example |
This short video produced by FarrPoint (3m 32s), shares real stories from people who use telecare in their daily lives. It helps you understand how this technology supports safety, independence, and peace of mind |
How Telecare helps:
- Provides 24/7 safety and reassurance
- Sends alerts to carers or emergency services when help is needed
- Reduces stress for families and unpaid carers
- Supports independent living, especially for older adults or people with disabilities
- Offers practical, cost-effective support in rural or remote areas
Why this matters:
Telecare helps people stay safe and supported at home or in the community. It gives families peace of mind, helps avoid unnecessary hospital visits, and makes it easier for people to live independently. As more people live with complex needs or in rural areas, telecare is an important way to provide fast, reliable support when and where it’s needed most. It also supports more proactive care, such as regular welfare check-in calls or automatic alerts when help is needed helping staff respond early before problems get worse.
Want to learn more?
| Read |
This short news article from FutureScot (2-minute read) gives an overview of the National Telecare Landscape Review, which looks at how telecare is being used across Scotland. The study was commissioned by the Scottish Government, COSLA, and the Digital Office. It also links to the full FarrPoint report, which shares ideas for improving services and using telecare more widely in the future. Link: New report shows there are over 140, 000 telecare service users in Scotland |
| Resources |
Learn more about how Telecare is being used across Scotland through these resources:
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■ Virtual Appointments
People can use familiar devices like smartphones or computers with a camera to have video calls with health and social care staff without needing to travel for appointments or meetings. This can include regular check-ins, reviews, and support from a range of people, including family members, even if they are in different locations.
| Example |
People across Scotland were asked what they think about using video for health and care appointments. This included members of the public and staff working in health and social care.
This shows strong support for video consultations and how they can improve access to care for everyone involved. |
How Virtual Appointments Help:
- Save time and reduce stress from travelling
- Fit around people’s daily lives and schedules
- Reach people in remote, rural, or hard-to-access areas
- Make it easier to include translators or advocates
- Help people who have mobility or transport difficulties get care more easily
Why This Matters:
Virtual appointments, such as those offered through Scotland’s Near Me service, are an important part of health and social care. They offer a more flexible and inclusive way for people to get the support they need, no matter where they are.
- For staff: they save time and make it easier to connect with more people.
- For individuals: they reduce barriers and make care easier to access.
Virtual appointments help make support more accessible, flexible, and convenient, whether someone is at home, at work, or in the community.
Want to learn more?
| Read |
This short summary published by the Scottish Government (2-minute read) shares key findings from the national consultation about how people and professionals feel about video consultations and what this means for future care. Link: Video consultations – public and clinicians views: consultation summary |
| Resources |
Learn more about how virtual appointments are being used across Scotland through these resources:
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■ Digital Tools and Apps
People can use simple digital tools, like mobile apps, websites, or wearable devices such as fitness watches to help manage their health and wellbeing. These tools can support people to monitor things like exercise, or how much water they’re drinking, and can also provide helpful reminders or useful information.
| Example |
The NHS 24 Online App can help people find the right care or self-care options without needing to phone services or wait in queues. It gives quick access to trusted health advice and helps people find the most suitable health or care services in their local area. Link: NHS 24 Online App |
How Digital Tools & Apps Help:
- Give 24/7 access to trusted health and care services, information, and advice
- Help people notice symptoms earlier and take action sooner
- Improve understanding of digital tools and health information
- Support self-care for long-term conditions or mental health
- Build confidence and help people feel more in control of their wellbeing
Why This Matters:
Digital tools, like the NHS 24 Online App, are changing how people get health and care support. They make it easier to find trusted advice and local services, and they help people manage their own health and wellbeing. These tools can also reduce pressure on busy services by supporting early action and clearer care pathways. In the long run, they can help improve outcomes for both individuals and staff.
Want to learn more?
| Read |
This short blog, published by Voluntary Health Scotland (2-minute read), Carol Cowan and Gail Lumsden from NHS 24’s Engagement Team share how raising awareness of NHS 24 services can make it easier for people to get the right care and support, especially in areas where access to services can be more difficult. Link: Carol and Gail’s Blog: NHS 24 – Helping you find the right care, in the right place |
| Resources |
Learn more about how digital services and apps are being used across Scotland through these resources:
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■ Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t a tool or service like telecare or virtual appointments. Instead, it works behind the scenes to help make TEC smarter, faster, and more personalised.
How AI Helps TEC:
- Spots early warning signs in data from remote monitoring
- Gives tailored advice or helpful reminders through apps
- Supports smarter triage and appointment scheduling
- Helps services be more proactive, not just reactive
- Saves time by automating routine administrative tasks
Why This Matters:
AI can help health and care services do more with less. It can spot patterns early, speed up decision-making, and reduce delays by automating routine tasks. This means more time for care, fewer missed opportunities, and better support for people. When used well, AI can make care more personalised, efficient, and proactive, for both the people using services and the staff providing them. As AI becomes a bigger part of TEC, it is important that staff understand what it can, and can’t do, so it can be used safely and confidently.
Want to learn more?
| AI Pathway |
Take a look at the AI Pathway on Turas Learn a practical introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for anyone working in health or social care. The pathway is made up of four levels: Explore, Embed, Drive, and Shape. Each level includes easy-to-follow steps, with links to helpful resources and activities to support your learning. You can work through the pathway at your own pace and reflect on what you’ve learned along the way. |
Reflect on What You Have Learned
You’ve explored how Technology Enabled Care (TEC) can benefit both people and health and care staff, as well as how different types of TEC, like Remote Monitoring, Telecare, Virtual Appointments, and Digital Tools and Apps, can support care in different ways. From helping people stay safe and independent at home, to saving time for staff and improving access to services, TEC offers real benefits across the whole health and social care system.
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 is a short activity to complete.
| Time to Reflect |
Think about someone you support or have supported.
If you want to learn more about AI, visit the AI Pathway on Turas Learn, a practical introduction designed for people working in health and social care. |
You have completed Step 3: What are the benefits of Technology Enabled Care?
Well done!
If you've completed all three steps, you can now unlock your Explore completion certificate to recognise your achievement.
Click here to download your Explore completion certificate.
Here are some simple ways to use what you’ve learned in your work and keep building your skills:
- Add your certificate to your learning record or Personal Development Plan (PDP).
- Talk to your manager about what you’ve learned and how it could be used in your role.
- Share your learning with colleagues, this could be a quick chat, email, or Teams message to help raise awareness.
- Bring it to your next team meeting or supervision to explore how TEC could support your team or organisation.
- Encourage colleagues to complete the TEC Explore Pathway so you can learn and apply it together.
- Keep learning! Explore the SQA Academy’s Technology Enabled Care module, a short, self-paced introduction based on the Professional Development Award in TEC (SCQF Level 7).
What Next!
You have now completed the Explore pathway.
Feedback
To share any comments or questions you have about the pathway please email nes.dew@nhs.scot. You can also let us know if any of the links aren’t working, or the resources aren’t available.
Ready To Keep Learning About TEC?
Start the Embed Pathway if you’re already using Technology Enabled Care (TEC) in your work, or if you’re ready to get started.
This pathway is for anyone who wants to build their skills, support others, and gain a better understanding of how TEC can be used effectively across health and social care.
