Covid-19 Industry round-up - mobile solutions - Health Informatics New Zealand

eHealthNews.nz: Covid-19

Covid-19 Industry round-up - mobile solutions

Wednesday, 15 April 2020

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eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

In our second round-up of industry news in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, eHealthNews.nz looks at mobile solutions to support contact tracing, mental health and GPs.

Contact tracing

Google and Apple

Google and Apple are working together to enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of Covid-19, via contact tracing.

Apple and Google will be launching a comprehensive solution that includes application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing.

First, in May, both companies will release APIs that enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities. These official apps will be available for users to download via their respective app stores.

Second, in the coming months, Apple and Google will work to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into the underlying platforms.

Prox app to combat virus spread

New Zealand medical technology company, Prox Bio Limited has launched a free mobile social distancing app.

Prox Bio founder, Peter Montgomery, says Prox is an easy-to-use education tool to help and incentivise people to keep their distance and reduce their risk of viral infection.

Using an amalgamation of five different sensing technologies, Prox detects nearby smartphones and automatically and anonymously records the number of personal interactions and distance (near or far) from a smartphone’s location.

With visuals and graphs, users can see at a glance their Prox risk profile change in real-time as the app records their personal proximity contacts. They can also review trends over a two-week period.

Mental health

Aroha for youth

A chatbot has been co-designed with clinicians and young people in New Zealand to help youth to manage stress and isolation during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Aroha is aimed at 13-25-year-olds and is a joint collaboration from researchers from the University of Auckland and A Better Start - E Tipu e Rea National Science Challenge and Auckland based design and technology studio RUSH.

Associate professor of youth mental health Sarah Hetrick says Aroha builds on a platform previously developed by the team, which was rapidly adapted for the current situation.

Aroha uses a chatbot within FaceBook Messenger which follows conversational dialogue with young people including top tips for wellbeing and how to stay connected virtually during this time.

Users can also do activities such as games for distraction or calming activities.

Chnnl app supports ICU staff

The Chnnl app is being used to support staff wellbeing at Wellington Hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

The app allows staff to self-report their wellbeing on a daily basis and connects them with relevant information and support services, including booking counselling sessions.

Users can also write a journal entry or anonymously report things such as bullying and harassment.

Chnnl is already in use at Waitemata and Auckland DHBs and St. John.

App founder Elizabeth Berryman says a previous study revealed that the app improved staff awareness of their own wellbeing and they were able to complete daily responses in less than one minute.

Re-centre delivers eConsults

The medical director at Re-centre, says the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has seen increased demand for online consultations from people needing counselling on everything from isolation anxiety to dealing with redundancy.

Campbell Emmerton says Re-centre has bolstered its eConsult services with new secure systems and equipment and new services are being championed by the Re-centre clinic's team.

Reporting also sends all secure information digitally through to GPs and other specialists to maintain care into the future.

General practice

Vensa

Vensa has been responding and supporting general practices with Covid-19 and helping them communicate with patients. In March, it helped deliver over 3 million SMS messages to patients, with more than half relating to Covid-19.

Messages have been to inform their patients to keep out of the practice if they have cold and flu symptoms and, more recently, inform them that they can receive care virtually.

Vensa has also developed a 4 stage telehealth solution developed by their clinical governance team to help GPs respond to Covid-19. The company released stage 1 last week which can help practices collect payments on telephone, virtual and in-person consults.

The company has developed a Covid-19 page that practices can direct their patients to reference all government resources.