Clinical algorithm used in Allied Health

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Allied health care provider Habit Health is using a clinical algorithm to initially assess people’s injuries and suggest the best treatment pathway.

Phio asks people questions about their injuries using an online chat-like function that takes around 15 minutes to complete.

If Phio flags that the person most likely has a musculoskeletal condition, the assessment is sent to a physio to review and get back to them about treatment, but the tool may also recommend the patient be seen by their GP or seek more urgent assistance.

Habit Health chief innovation officer Mark Shirley says Phio, powered by machine learning, was launched about six months ago and is now being integrated into their online booking tool.

If the patient consents to sharing their location, the booking tool can recognise where that patient is and open up the clinic that is closest to them to make a booking.

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“It provides an entry point and gives people the confidence to do something about their injury as many people do not,” he says.

“We are also looking to relieve pressure on the primary healthcare system to determine when someone does not need to see a GP, as you can see a physiotherapist directly for the majority of musculoskeletal conditions.”

The organisation has also launched the free Habit Health Plus app to provide virtual support to patients.

The app provides health and wellbeing tips on things like sleep and exercise and once a month asks people to complete the World Health Organisation Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) to measure their mental health and wellbeing.

Shirley says international health agencies are starting to track overall wellbeing of populations using the WHO-5 and the app can then provide individualised recommendations based on scores.

This includes ‘digital support journeys’ such as a guided exercise programme or a healthy eating programme, or for those that prefer face to face support, a quick ability to book at a time that suits them.

For users who choose to share their activity from wearables such as smart watches, the app can also provide prompts to get people moving on a regular basis and Shirley plans to introduce healthy movement competitions amongst users.

“We launched it in February and we have had some really great responses,” he says.

“We are looking to provide a really seamless integration between a digital health platform and in-person care.”

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