Chelsea and Westminster launches app to remotely monitor stroke risk

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation has launched a remote tool which will allow stroke patients to test themselves at home for atrial fibrillation.

The trust is trialling a new tool called FibriCheck, which enables patients to check for atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart condition that can increase the risk of stroke.

The tool is delivered through a smartphone app, with patients placing their finger over the camera lens for one minute to measure pulse and pressure signals. Should this detect AF, patients will be called in for an appointment to get a formal diagnosis and receive treatment.

Dr Sadia Khan, consultant cardiologist at the trust, said: “We are delighted to be able to trial FibriCheck at the Trust, to monitor stroke patients remotely without the need to come into our hospitals.

“FibriCheck is quick, reliable and easy to use, and the diagnostics will provide vital information so we can detect AF earlier in people who have had a recent stroke and undertake the next steps in clinical care to reduce the risk of further strokes. I’m confident the app will be a game changer in the way we manage patient care in the Stroke service.”

The CW Innovation programme, led by the Trust and its charity CW+, has allowed the new project to be delivered at pace. It was identified by the trust’s cardiology team as part of CW Innovation’s staff funding call for new digital innovation ideas. Thanks to support from the Rosetrees Trust and Kusuma Trust, the new project received funding. As well as testing the efficacy of FibriCheck, the trial will also assess patient experience and satisfaction of using the app.

Lars Grieten, co-founder and CEO at FibriCheck, added: “This app is a powerful remote monitoring tool to improve AF detection rates and patient outcomes, safely and efficiently. We are pleased to be working with the cardiology specialists at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to help improve the quality of life and outcomes for patients with long-term conditions.”

The FibriCheck trial is all part of the trust’s remote monitoring portfolio which is facilitating the ability of clinicians to care for their patients at home. Earlier this year it launched the DBm-Health app to help patients better manage their diabetes at home., as well as Klick, a digital service to enable HIV patients manage their appointments, complete health assessments, review results and communicate with healthcare professionals via an app.