The pioneers behind HSU’s remote monitoring initiative are nationally recognized specialists in this field, and most—if not all—healthcare institutions across Iceland now look to HSU for leadership in this area. HSU’s remote monitoring program closely aligns with its Home Hospital service, as both primarily support the same group of clients—older individuals. The program enhances care for patients with chronic illnesses and contributes to ongoing improvement, innovation, and higher-quality healthcare services. HSU utilizes the Norwegian remote monitoring software Dignio for this project.

HSU’s remote monitoring is considered a unique innovation in Icelandic healthcare, and even by international standards. In this interview, we speak with Margrét Björk Ólafsdóttir, Head Nurse of Primary Care at HSU Selfoss, and Anna Margrét Magnúsdóttir, Assistant Unit Manager at the same location.

A Growing Client Base

“The project is progressing well. We are monitoring more and more clients through Dignio. The group currently includes around 40 individuals and is constantly expanding. It is a diverse group, but they all share complex health issues where remote monitoring can make a real difference.”

Clients Are Thrilled

How have your clients responded?
“As positively as we could have hoped. When we first implemented Dignio, we were essentially flying blind—we had no precedent in Iceland. As the first healthcare institution to adopt Dignio, we had to trust the vendor’s promise that it would be useful. It would have helped to hear from existing users, but there were none. Our clients now consistently report that remote monitoring makes them feel safe and more engaged in managing their health.”

Plans to Expand

What’s next?
“At the Selfoss Primary Care Center, our next step is to keep expanding the remote monitoring program. Our dream is for it to become a powerful tool for GPs to monitor and manage medication adjustments and other interventions remotely. That would significantly reduce workload and in-person visits, which are limited due to time constraints.”

Immense Potential

How do you envision developing the service further?
“The possibilities are almost endless—we’re just getting started. The Selfoss primary care area serves a large and growing population, and there’s great potential to include even more patient groups in Dignio. For our satellite clinics outside Árborg, remote monitoring could ease the travel burden for both healthcare workers and clients. In home nursing, for example, staff currently drive long distances just to collect standard measurements. With remote monitoring, we could focus our time and energy on patients who need direct care the most.”

National Leaders

Have similar projects started elsewhere in Iceland?
“We’ve met with representatives from nearly every healthcare institution in Iceland who have shown interest in our model. Since launching the project, we’ve delivered numerous presentations at conferences, meetings, and training events for healthcare professionals across the country. We’ve introduced the project to the Directorate of Health, government ministers, CEOs of healthcare organizations, and more. Just recently, we participated in a professional development day for newly graduated nurses at Landspítali University Hospital. While some institutions have begun using remote monitoring systems, they have not yet gained the hands-on experience we now have.”

Remote Monitoring Is the Future of Healthcare

And globally, would you say this is the future of healthcare?
“Absolutely. Remote monitoring is the future, both in Iceland and worldwide. With population forecasts pointing to a dramatic increase in the elderly population in Iceland and globally by May 2025 and beyond, we must adapt. Aging often brings more health concerns, though not always, and our current systems are not equipped to meet that rising demand. Shifting services to the home is a positive change. Through remote monitoring, we gain access to essential health data collected in the client’s home environment—on their terms.”