Doctor on your arm that knows when you’re getting sick
PATIENTS are being monitored with wearable ‘artificial intelligence’ bands that can alert doctors to their risk of becoming seriously ill.
A groundbreaking trial of a new device, known as a ‘doctor on your arm’, is taking place in Scotland.
The monitor, similar to Fitbits worn by exercise enthusiasts, is aimed at patients who have suffered heart failure, lung disease and pneumonia – the top three conditions for hospital readmission.
Patients who are in or have been discharged from hospital will be fitted with the mobile-phoned sized device worn on the upper arm.
Named snap40, it constantly tracks vital signs such as heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure and temperature.
It uses artificial intelligence to analyse the data and calculate whether the patient is at risk of deterioration, sending ‘early warning alerts’ to doctors on mobile applications. It can also monitor patients at high risk of having a serious fall due to its ability to track movement in posture.
The Scottish developer of snap40 announced yesterday that it has received a £1million NHS contract to launch trials in Lothian and Fife.
The idea was sparked by co-founder Christopher McCann’s experience working in hospitals as a medical student.
He often found patients would deteriorate because warning signs were not being picked up early.
Mr McCann, who gave up his medical training to concentrate on the technology, said: ‘With increasing pressure on healthcare systems and challenges in prioritising competing demands, access to doctors and nurses is at a premium.
‘Our society simply cannot afford one-toone care – snap40 changes that. It allows our world class healthcare staff to care for many more patients by helping them to prioritise who needs attention most.’
Scotland’s NHS is recording its worst ever performing for A&E, cancer care, routine surgery and bed blocking. With waiting
‘Potential to change healthcare’
time targets continually missed, snap40 hopes to cut out the need for many medical tests by sending the information directly to doctors and nurses.
Mr McCann said those tracked who were showing signs of deterioration could be seen by a home care team, potentially preventing their readmission to hospital.
The electronic device has been granted funding for clinical studies with NHS Fife and NHS Lothian’s Emergency Medicine Research Group based in Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary. Dr Amanda Wood, NHS Fife assistant research and development director, said: ‘We are delighted to continue collaborating with snap40.
‘This product has the potential to change how we deliver healthcare.’
There are numerous other health devices on the market and in development that hope to transform modern healthcare.
However, there are patient confidentiality concerns due to private companies having access to huge swathes of medical data.