Technology is transforming the NHS and the wider healthcare industry but we’ve still only touched the tip of the iceberg.
That’s why the first edition of BusinessCloud of 2018 took a spotlight to the 51 Pioneers of Health Tech.
Today we can reveal, in full, the list of companies and individuals transforming the landscape in healthcare.
Spanning the entire country, nominations included every type of technology from VR to AI-powered bespoke pregnancy guides and every aspect of healthcare, from rare diseases to caring for the elderly.
The list is a testimony to the fantastic work that’s being done to reduce the burden on the NHS and to support people during some of the most challenging time of their lives.
Belfast-based AppAttic is helping create a world where you can track your medicine intake with a game or recover from a stroke using VR.
Its co-founder and CEO Carley Morrow said: “We believe virtual reality has the potential to transform healthcare delivery by taking new and existing treatments and improving their delivery, engagement and efficacy.
“Our vision is to exploit this medium to create interventions that unite physical and mental health in an inclusive, engaging and entertaining manner, kicking off with stroke rehab support and VR game experience, Magic Moovr.
“As Steven Spielberg would put it: Ready Patient One!”
She added: “I’m sure many of the other tech pioneers will agree that pursuing transformative change can be intense and demanding. Thankfully there are many moments along the way that make you smile and this is one of them.
“AppAttic is honoured and delighted to featured on the 51 Health Tech Pioneers list.”
If you struggle to remember to take your medicine and figure out your dosages, eLucid mhealth is for you.
Its intelligent clinical packaging helps users control and track their medicine dosages with a smartphone.
CEO Dr James Burnstone said: “We’re working hard to put the finishing touches on an adherence solution that benefits both patients and care givers. Being recognised among other great innovators in the industry is validation that we’re almost there.
“If done properly, tech will alleviate the mounting pressure on health professionals and redefine the idea of patient-centric care.
“Self-management, early intervention, personalised support, and better patient-care provider links will all become easier as we progress with technology.”
3D LifePrints is a Liverpool-based 3D printing company that helps create things like anatomic models for surgeons to practice on. It also brings low-cost printing in developing nations, including bespoke prosthetics for people who have lost limbs.
As innovator of Refer-to-Pharmacy, Alistair Gray has developed the world’s first fully integrated electronic referral system to refer patients from their hospital bed to their community pharmacists for support with their medicines after discharge. This has led to a reduction in readmissions to hospital.
Antidote, based in London, uses algorithms and machine learning to power Antidote Match, which matches patients with clinical trials. The aim is to accelerate breakthroughs in potentially life-saving treatments by bridging the gap between medical research and the people who need it.
BenevolentAI is speeding up drug development using artificial intelligence. It analyses data from things like clinical trials and academic papers to dramatically improve the speed, efficiency and effectiveness of drug creation.
James Chandler, VP for corporate affairs at BenevolentAI, said: “We are delighted to find ourselves in such prestigious company and to be recognised for pushing the boundaries of AI as a force for good.
“The next five years are going to see more transformation in healthcare than the previous 50. Much of that transformation will come from tech and much of that tech will be AI driven.”
Pankaj Chandak (pictured above) pioneered the use of 3D printing in paediatric kidney transplants in 2015. He achieved this just three months after winning a hospital charity competition to come up with an innovative use for a 3D printer. Created by digital healthcare company Intelesant as part of a £5.2m NHS trial, Howz fits sensors into everyday objects for people with dementia so that families are alerted if their loved ones aren’t following their usual routine.
Patients can interact with a GP surgery through the My Health UK app. It lets them schedule appointments and send information to the GP digitally as well as requesting prescriptions and accessing their medical records.
And Steve Dann’s Medical Realities delivers high-quality surgical training using virtual reality. The platform lets surgeons use an app to look at a scene in 360° or at 3D anatomy in detail and then test themselves.