“It’s important to emphasize that we don’t use Nattugla to monitor our users, but to watch over them. We no longer need to unlock doors and physically check if users are okay. As the name suggests, Nattugla is an extension of our own eyes. The fact that we also save our caregivers from a lot of unnecessary work is another welcome effect of this great product,” says a very satisfied unit manager, Ruth Marie Donovan.
Nattugla was developed by the Tromsø-based company Easymeeting AS. The starting point was technology originally used for video conferencing, but it has now been further developed and adapted as an advanced welfare technology aid. Nattugla can be used together with the welfare technology platform Hepro Respons from Hepro AS, and it is this company from Rognan that has delivered Nattugla to Hamarøy Municipality. Product manager Lars Isaksen reports great interest from municipalities across the country for this innovative product that Hamarøy is now adopting.
“It has really taken off now. Nattugla is one of the best technologies for digital monitoring. It’s a fantastic product, and it’s constantly evolving. With Nattugla, you take care of the elderly and those in need of care in the best possible way, while employees get a better workday. It’s a truly unique product that more and more people are discovering,” says Lars Isaksen.
Unit manager Donovan and project manager Halmøy report an almost trouble-free implementation of the new technology.
“There have been some challenges, but nothing we couldn’t solve quite easily. For example, one user lives in an area where Telia has no coverage, but when we switched the SIM card to Telenor, it worked perfectly. Otherwise, we’ve received good support from Hepro whenever we needed it. Nattugla is a very good product that is easy and intuitive to use,” says Gustav Halmøy.
“It has mostly gone quite smoothly,” agrees Ruth Marie Donovan.
“People seem satisfied, and most are positive. There has been some skepticism, but that’s healthy. It’s important that we acknowledge objections and invite open dialogue about what is challenging. I want to build a healthcare service that is not only sustainable today, but also ready for the future. It’s about using technology in the right way—for the right person and at the right time. The need is what matters. With Nattugla, we can offer better quality and increased security, and we can use our resources even more effectively. One of our home-based users used to trigger dozens of alarms every day, requiring the home care service to respond. After Nattugla was installed, the number of callouts is almost zero. And the recipient feels that the quality of the service has improved since getting Nattugla.”
Unit manager Donovan has clear goals for the future. Nattugla is just the beginning. Sustainability, innovation, and technology are key words for her, as are competence development and well-being.
“It’s important that we have fun. We need to practice seeing solutions, and then we’ll get really good at it. We should water the roses rather than pull the weeds, so to speak. There’s no way around technology in the healthcare system of the future. We just have to dare to start walking. Humans and machines have always worked together—it’s just a matter of figuring out how we can use technology in the best possible way, for the greatest possible benefit to people,” says Ruth Marie Donovan, who is thoroughly tired of the call for more ‘warm hands’ in healthcare.
“It’s like fishing in a sea with no fish. There won’t be more warm hands, no matter how much we call for them. Most Norwegians want to live at home as long as possible, and there’s no way around it. We must think innovation and technology.”
“And technology like Nattugla gives us opportunities we didn’t have before. We’re so used to entering our users’ homes, but who really wants a visit at two in the morning? Now we can let users have a good night’s sleep, while being ready to respond if needed. Human encounters will always be the most important thing for us, but there’s a lot of empathy in good technology, too.”
