News
30th June 2021
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Health apps - are they always the best solution?
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Covid 19 has seen digital solutions in the health sector explode. The use of NHS Digital services has boomed, with the NHS app alone receiving 2.5M repeat prescription requests in Dec 2020, up from 46K in January 2020. We're seeing the effects of the pandemic reflected in the nature of the app development enquiries we're receiving at Cambridge Digital Health (CDH)... Read more
24th May 2020
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Cambridge companies create medical emergency app to more effectively deploy resources amid COVID crisis
Two Cambridge companies have partnered to provide the East of England Trauma Network with an app to enable more effective management of trauma patients across the region, as hospitals struggle to manage with current methods amid the COVID crisis.
The web-based app, called Network Status, enables efficient recording and displaying of capacity across the region’s trauma units, emergency departments, critical care units, operating theatres and specialist services. This ensures that hospitals under pressure, largely due to COVID-19 at present, can be identified and trauma patients managed in the most appropriate place.
Development of the app was sponsored by NOxProtekt, in partnership with the healthcare app development company, Cambridge Digital Health. It is due to launch on the 25th of May.
Dr Simon Lewis, Clinical Director of East of England Trauma Network thinks the app will make a significant difference to the trauma response across the region. He says: “The app will save us a huge amount of time and effort. The easy recording and viewing of Trauma Network status data is something we've been wanting to implement for a long time. We've managed so far with processes that worked, but there was a lot of room for improvement. At a time where resources are under so much pressure, we're so grateful for the support in building this valuable solution."
NOxProtekt Directors John Moore and Jonathan Rodgers are pleased that the support has fulfilled an important need. Moore said of the achievement: "The team at NOxProtekt wanted to support the NHS in dealing with the impact of COVID-19 by teaming up with our network of contacts and partners. We're hearing about the large number of patients being impacted directly by COVID, but there are large numbers of people with other emergency medical needs, as well as services involved in treating them, that are also in great need. We decided that the biggest impact that our sponsorship could have, locally and potentially nationally, would be to support the development of a digital solution for the Trauma Network”.
18th December 2019
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New App will open eyes to vision issues in babies
Screening app will help student midwives easily identify eye conditions at birth
An app that helps student midwives detect rare eye conditions in newborns has been developed by a lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
All babies are screened for congenital abnormalities, including eye issues, within 72 hours of birth under the Newborn Infant and Physical Examination programme (NIPE). However because eye conditions at birth are rare, it is difficult for midwives to get hands-on experience in this area during their training.
Under current screening methods, potential issues are sometimes incorrectly flagged, leading to anxiety and stress for new parents, and precious clinic time used unnecessarily.
The Eye Screen app, developed by Lindsey Rose, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery at ARU in collaboration with Cambridge Digital Health, places several examples of multiple conditions, complete with accurate clinical photographs, at the fingertips of student midwives, ensuring they are more familiar with these conditions.
The app also gives students the opportunity to test their own skills, with results available to download as a PDF for their own records or to share with tutors. Lindsey said:
“While this is not a tool for diagnosis, Eye Screen allows student midwives to become familiar with a variety of eye conditions that they may not come across while on clinical placement.
“There have been situations in the past where babies with a completely normal red reflex that is pale, which is common in babies of BAME parents, have been referred to a clinic, causing additional anxiety and worry for parents at an already stressful time. The app was developed to help student midwives gain exposure to a variety of normal red reflexes from babies of all ethnicities and to recognise abnormalities.
“Increased confidence and competency in midwives will hopefully ensure those who need treatment get it, and reduce the incidence of unnecessary clinic referrals.
“We are confident that the Eye Screen app will become a vital tool for anyone involved in training the midwives of the future, and it is another example of how technology can play its part in improving healthcare.”
Eye Screen is available on both iOS and Android devices and institutions can sign up for the app by e-mailing info@camdm.com
