App Round-up

Philips tests connected care diabetes app

Philips and Dutch Radboud university medical centre have launched a prototype diabetes app that tracks patient data and connects people to an online healthcare community. The app can collect data from electronic medical records and personal health devices. Users can access an online community where they can interact with other patients or with healthcare professionals. The system is built on the Philips HealthSuite Digital Platform and its Virtual Health Record initiative.

iHealth launches personal blood pressure monitor

iHealth has launched an electronic blood pressure monitor that can share results with family members or healthcare professionals. The iHealth Track streams blood pressure information to the cloud via the smartphone app iHealth MyVitals. It was designed for people who have difficulty or are scared of using technology, meaning it has a large display and uses colour to indicate the result.

Birmingham and Solihull installs ‘media wall’ to reduce anxiety

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust has installed a large touch screen wall to help patients who are in a state of high anxiety or stress. The ‘media wall’, produced by Dutch company Recornect, is being used in a seclusion room at the Trust’s Eden Unit, in Erdington. Patients can use the wall to; view relaxing imagery; write or draw; watch television; listen to the radio; and play games. Possible uses are controlled by a staff member using an external app.

Wales rolls out text reminder service

The NHS in Wales is rolling out a text reminder service after a successful pilot in August. The My Health Text service is now available at more than 200 GP practices in the country. It is intended to make it easier for GP practices to send text messages to patients, providing messages and reminders about upcoming appointments, seasonal vaccinations or surgery closures. Pilot practices reported a reduction in the number of patients who didn't turn up for appointments.

Medelinked first app in BioClinica’s eHealth App xChange

The electronic personal health record Medelinked has become the first app to join BioClinica’s new eHealth App xChange. BioClinica, which specialises in providing technology and services for clinical trials, launched the App xChange as a “growth engine” for niche technology providers and individual app developers looking to get involved in clinical trials. BioClinica said Medelinked is the first in a series of new partners to be announced.

App to record vaccine history

A new free app allows people to record their vaccine history. iVacc is available on both the Apple Store and Google Play and enables individuals to record and have access to their own and their children’s vaccination records. It contains the UK vaccination schedule and allows people to save any type of vaccine. It also comes with an infant percentile weight chart and weight table to track a child’s weight, as well as information screens on possible side effects after vaccination.

Tooth brushing app is effective

An app designed to encourage young people to look after their teeth shows signs of effectiveness, according to research published in the British Dental Journal. Brush DJ is available for free on the Apple Store and plays music for two minutes when a person is brushing their teeth to push people to keep brushing for the optimum length of time. It also reminds users to spit out after brushing but not to rinse and sets reminders to brush twice a day and to change toothbrush every three months. Researchers questioned users of the app and found that 70% of respondents reported their teeth felt cleaner since using the app.