Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has introduced digital health coaching app, Surgery Hero to help patients prepare for surgery.
Using AI, Surgery Hero “quickly and accurately” identifies patients who may need additional support before and after an operation, with an aim to “reduce the risk of complications before a procedure and accelerate a patient’s recovery”.
According to the trust, eligible patients will receive further information about this new project via a text message or email directly from Surgery Hero, “inviting them to download the app and complete a sign-up process”. If patients choose to proceed, they’ll be given access to the Surgery Hero app before receiving “12 weeks of digital assistance” prior to their operation taking place. The service allows patients to have calls with a personal health coach as well as offering “tailored, on-demand resources and information, peer support groups, and learning workshops”.
Dr Clare Hammell, chief medical officer and deputy chief executive officer at Mid Cheshire Hospitals, commented: “The app empowers patients to take an active role in managing their own healthcare. Using the expert support and guidance, it helps them to get in better physical and mental shape for their upcoming operation. Patients who take part in programmes like these have been shown to have a lower risk of complications and can return to normal activities sooner.”
Surgery Hero was recently acquired by Sword Health, as part of their investment in the UK health sector.
Digital healthcare apps: the wider trend
British Heart Foundation recently awarded nearly £230k to University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, for their Appitrator app. According to the trust, the funding will help to further develop an algorithm they have created, which records “key patient data” such as blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and potential side effects and then uses that information to generate personalised medication recommendations.
The Health Service Executive Health App has been launched in Ireland, offering patients a “digital front door” to health services, as part of their goal to digitise patient health records and to “make it easier for everyone to navigate the health service”.
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust recently won a bid to fund the rollout of the Careology cancer app. The app will be used within the trust to provide 24/7 support to cancer patients and help to understand their needs, keeping patients connected with the relevant healthcare teams. It will also reportedly support patients with self-management of their own care and treatment.
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