Technology

Posted on August 4, 2016 by staff

App helps patients monitor recovery following major surgery

Technology

BusinessCloud is counting down the technology which could save your life.

A new app aims to support those recovering from surgery and reassure them about whether their symptoms are normal or a cause for concern.

Founded by surgeons Tom Harte and Axel Sylvan, MyRecovery provides patients with access to clinical information when required and invites them to take part in their own care.

As well as having medical backgrounds, the two founders have also used their own experiences of undergoing surgery to support the development of the app.

Sylvan, the company’s chief medical officer, underwent spinal surgery where he was cared for by Harte, which sparked a shared interest in treatment from a patient’s point of view while Harte also underwent surgery to remove a kidney stone.

Their experiences led to a desire to challenge the current system of patient care to help those who are undergoing an operation gain more understanding of the process and aftercare.

MyRecovery currently focuses on orthopaedic surgery – mainly knee and hip replacements – and gives users video guides, explanations of what to expect and ways to monitor their recovery.

It also helps medical staff monitor their aftercare and recovery.

A deal was agreed between the team and Wellington Hospital in London to support a pilot study of the app.

There are many other firms changing the face of healthcare with technology.

Scottish start-up Snap40 has created a tool which can ensure healthcare staff can easily identify high-risk patients, both at home and in hospital, and allow them to take potentially life-saving action sooner rather than later.

Qardio produces a range of healthcare monitoring devices allowing users to monitor their heart, blood pressure and weight.

Heart disease, one of the biggest killers in the UK, can be detected using Alivecor’s smartphone system which takes a 30-second ECG reading.

One key area is ensuring that patients are taking the medicines they’re prescribed – which is where eLucid mHealth comes in.

Skin Analytics is a tool which aims to improve the survival rate for melanoma skin cancer by providing users with a low-cost way to identify moles which could be cancerous.

Florence is a telecom-based tech is looking to reduce hospital admissions and keep people in their homes for longer.

Dublin-based start-up Beats Medical helps to improve the lives of those with Parkinson’s disease.

And Eva Diagnostics is a company whose aim is to revolutionise blood tests so they can be analysed without a hospital laboratory – potentially improving the lives of people undergoing chemotherapy.