Win an ipad
Technology is one thing, but the value in it is the application. In light of this and to the 1250 people who read our blog every month here’s your chance to contribute and help us.
We have a competition going on in here. Come up with a great idea that we can put on the ipad and commercialise within the healthcare sector and win the sodding thing. We thought we’d extend it to everyone. So it’s simple. Send us in your ideas; however straight forward and the best idea submitted wins the ipad. The best way to start is probably to answer the question “what if you/ we could…” It needs to be relevant to what we do, supporting and communicating healthcare and medicines to people, but that’s as tight as the brief gets. We’ll do the judging, we’ll decide who wins, and the judge’s decision is final. Normal competition rules apply; see here for the legal stuff, names of winners published on request etc. Competition closes on the 18th July so get those grey cells working.
To enter leave a comment here, or send your thoughts to beapart@hivehealth.com.
Competition rules available from http://hivehealth.com/privacy/
My idea is a simple spider diagram with the patient at the centre and ‘legs’ reaching out to effectively folders with information on:
- next of kin, relatives, urgent matters in case of illness/death, etc
- heathcare workers – names and details
- medicines – current, dosages, etc – but with an initial warning for allergies, etc.
- diagnosis and prognosis
- general public information about interests, likes, work, etc enabling healthcare workers to communicate on relevant matters and perhaps dig beneath what is presented on to other matters.
- downloadable basic details to increase the speed of ‘taking history’
July 12th, 2010 | 1:08pm
by Ray
Ray, thanks alot, you are the first idea across the line. Brilliant. Cheers Ian
July 12th, 2010 | 1:58pm
by ian
Would love an ipad to read the coalitions healthcare proposals and summarise what this will mean for Pharma, but that is something I need to get round to.
My actual idea …. an e-detail (admittedly not that revolutionary) aimed at payors (who these will be after 2012? I will answer after reading the above), while providing all of the usual data on effectiveness, competitor analysis, order key papers and an integrated budget impact model to provide the financial justification.
It would also detail some patient case studies relating to the proposed indication and it’s place in the patient pathway to give it a more patient centric angle which I often feel payors don’t get exposed to.
Just my two pence
July 13th, 2010 | 12:55pm
by Dave
Dave, that sounds like an idea for a quick wiki. We could see if we could get a bit of user generated content to do the summarising. Let me have a think…
July 14th, 2010 | 9:33pm
by ian
Idea: Medication Management App to combine one of the most patient-centred healthcare activities, taking medication, with delivering targeted brand marketing.
Detail: Patients are notorious for forgetting to take their medication. Some frankly naff reminder systems are on the market but none integrate:
1) Feedback to the doctor.
The patient could enter prescription information and the app would set an alarm reminder. So far. So simple. In addition, the app would require the patient to confirm they had taken their medication. This could then be securely sent via the internet as feedback to a GPs surgery server. This would provide the GP with additional opportunity to monitor progress.
2) Marketing opportunities.
The app could have simple paid adverts but a more sophisticated version should be akin to Google’s targeted ads. The app would analyse the prescription and target related drugs and brands. The system for feedback to the doctor would also provide an opportunity for targeting at both ends and thus a greater level of success (as well as being ethically and medically sound).
Best,
James
July 16th, 2010 | 2:48pm
by James P
My idea is to use the iPads ability to convey information in a compelling and interactive way to highlight the issues around organ donation.
Working title: lIfeapp
Subtitle: Its good to giveŠ
Commercial model: A sponsored app to be downloaded for free.
This app aims to highlight the benefits of blood/organ donations.
A mixture of interviews, info graphics and Q&As that take advantage of the
interactive experience offered by the iPad ie the ability to mix video with
text, sound and slideshows.
€ What organ donation meant for me. People who are only alive today because
of donations tell their stories.
€ Families tell stories of their loved ones who had agreed to donate.
€ What your donations can enable
Myths dispelled, questions answered:
Deal with ethical and religious dilemmas.
€ step by step advice for medical professionals
€ step by step advice for patients
€ step by step advice for potential donor & their families
€ How to become a donor
€ Interactive infographics on donation outcomes, statistics displayed in
realtime etc
Glossary of terms
Brief history of organ donation, 1954 first kidney transplant – 2005 facial
transplant etc
Interactive links.
Campaigns to join
Registration facility, ie sign-up today to become a registered organ donor
Plus social networking facilities within app to spread the dissemination of the app, ie Send a message to friends recommending that they take a look, sign up etc.
July 16th, 2010 | 2:50pm
by Mick Moore
The iPad is a tricky one. There are some great apps available whose functionality can be adapted, but many of them are more suited to the phone than the pad. It doesn’t have a camera (yet) which means you can’t use any augmented reality or anything that uses video conferencing techs. It doesn’t play Flash which cuts out some of the funkier imaging capabilities, and it wont sync with any of the Microsoft works applications which means whatever you use it for needs to be pretty independent. It strikes me that its best uses would appreciate it’s portability, online and GPS functionality, and the fact that it can run apps – the bits of the iPad that make it a bit like a cross between an iPhone and an old school rep tablet.
So, what problems might it solve? I’m having a look at 3 – one to help marketeers work with agencies and produce better briefs, one to help nurses with procedures and one to help reps talk to HCPs relevantly.
Marketeers: with some exceptions, marketeers tend to struggle with writing briefs. Obviously they want to be part of the brief writing process because they want the end product to be right, but when it comes to describing the mood, values, tone etc that they want a piece to hold, they tend to have difficulty articulating what they are after. Agencies are not always very good at helping the clients to work out what they mean.
I would suggest creating an app similar to Popplet, for Hive and the clients to use together to collaboratively and dynamically build a mood board/descriptor for a brief. The result of the app would be a board with images, videos and descriptions that pull together to build the tonal part of the brief; the process of building it would be adaptable, discursive and hopefully pull out some of the clients thoughts that aren’t being articulated. It’s not a product you can sell, but it’s a product that could sell you. Have a look at this YouTube video to see how Popplet itself works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU5q7ms4LfI
Nurses: nurses in GP surgeries undertake a fair few procedures. Mostly fairly simple, but in many cases used quite infrequently – possibly a long time after training. The problem for nurses as I understand it tends to be that they lack confidence in some of the procedures that they undertake, rather than lacking the skills to do them – sometimes all they need is a reminder that they are doing the right thing.
I think most people are familiar with the Jamie Oliver recipe apps, and I’m sure you guys have seen some of the medical anatomy teaching apps available (3D4Medical do a load). For clients who’s products require the nurse to carry out a specific procedure on their patients rather than just hand the doc a prescription, you could create an app that takes them through a reminder of how to conduct it. You could use a combination of video and animation (not Flash though obviously) with links through to theory for those requiring a more in depth lesson.
The nurse gets a reminder and confidence, the client’s brand gets to be seen as supportive and to make sure the products are being used correctly.
The problem with uses for HCPs though is that whilst over 2 thirds of GPs have jumped on the iPhone bandwagon they are not there on the iPad yet (may never be? It’s a great toy, but doesn’t quite feel as necessary as the iPhone), so is there any point in creating uses for people you are not giving iPads to? In which case, it’s probably worth focussing on the reps.
I think there are at least a couple of ways you can help the reps out.
Some kind of detailing mechanism would be the most obvious use (snore) but only if you made it a bit more useful than the traditional tablet/e-detail affair. My understanding is that reps find e-detail aids inflexible and awkward to use because so often it is difficult to skip to the section you want with any degree of subtlety and without running at speed through the unwanted sections of the detail. I have also been out with reps who find they can’t think of anything new to talk to the doc about on subsequent visits, nor can they remember exactly what they talked about last time (not the best reps, admittedly, but still a chunk of those out there). Many get info out of the doctors they visit but then don’t really know how to use it, other than to drop it into the conversation next time to prove they do remember how old their kids are etc.
Wouldn’t it be more useful to design an app that could register and remember which doctor the rep is calling on each time, and make recommendations (Amazon/Tesco style) about what the dr might find useful to discuss this time given the content of the last visit? Of course this shouldn’t strictly dictate the conversation, but might give the reps some ideas for where to start it.
So, the app would contain a series of pages/images designed to be picked through, with relevant branches depending on the doctors interests (pretty standard so far I know but bear with me a sec). The doctor would be registered into the application by location (iPads have GPS functionality so you could mashup with Google Maps to show where the iPad is at the time) and the app would remember the details input by the rep AND the journey taken through the sell – ie what the HCP has seen and not seen on this visit. There would be buttons placed throughout the detail where the rep could register when the doc has been particularly interested/skeptical/inquisitive/bored.
On the rep’s next visit, your iPad app uses Google Maps to register the HCP back in and the info gleaned about the HCP from the rep (eg role, PCT directives), from Google (location) and from the last detail (eg journey taken, info seen and not seen, particular areas of interest and lack thereof) to suggest to the rep what to present to the doctor this time. It’s a bit more 2.0 that the standard detailing mechanisms that you see around the place in that it individualises the information and options presented to the HCP based on personal information and interactions. Not necessary for really good reps, but probably quite helpful for the poorer ones.
While developing this, you might as well use some of the iPad’s other capabilities. It could be designed to take only a click or two (are they still called clicks on a touchscreen?!) to send a relevant paper to the doctors iPhone/email should they express an interest. At the end of a detail, the iPad could send a leavepiece version of that particular detail through to the HCP too.
In addition, part of the function of the application should be to feedback (in real time or stored and sent in batches) to both the marketeer and the trainer/manager. Feedback would allow the marketeer to see which parts of the sell are being used most, which papers are being requested most frequently etc and tailor this app and the rest of the communication accordingly. Because it’s an app, updates could be made available to the reps for download when these adaptations are made. And because the sell itself is flexible and not set on a specific journey, additional info required following competitor information and new data can be built into single pages and made part of these updated downloads.
Since you now have HCP preference data, if the same brand/account has a website then your knowledge of what information has proved most interesting to the HCPs could be used to inform the most prominent info online.
Feedback to the trainer/manager too allows them further transparency of the content and flow of the call made by the reps under their charge.
So, for the rep there is a flexible sell that remembers info and helps them with future conversations.
For the HCP the information and discussions are designed to be as relevant to them as possible (and they get instant papers sent to iPhone/email at the time they are top of mind).
For the marketeer and trainer there is extra transparency to help tailor materials and training.
For the agency there are bunts.
That’s 3 uses so far – help the clients and get better briefs, train and give confidence to the nurses, adapt sells for individual doctors.
I have another idea about an easy GUI for showing patient pathways, but I need to go and help my little brother paint his new flat.
July 16th, 2010 | 2:52pm
by Em
Hello Hive people.
The iPad medicine cabinet library:
Love the look of the iPad and feel that one of the best apps that comes with it is the iBooks. Having a bookshelf that any healthcare professional can fill with useful training modules, pamphlets, booklets, eZines etc that can be accessed with the press of a button. Each book can be categorised and have key words so some sort of search function is in place for quick retrieval, even the library shelf has a sequence for quick access. For Hive, the creation of these books with educational, promotional or even fun-style messaging would work well – doesn’t have to be limited to one manufacturer. There could be different libraries for GPs, consultants, practice nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy assistants etc etc.
Taking this idea further could be a consumer medical library. Like Waiting Room Information Services a style of leaflet could be produced and a whole library of different ones could be made available. In a country where self-care is being promoted but not really understood there could even be a grant available for producing these?
PS Tim, loved your Communique Awards blog. You can be quite humorous sometimes…
July 16th, 2010 | 2:56pm
by Dom
Dynamic patient compliance companion
Patient adherence is often a barrier to the effective management of a condition – for doctor, patient and their extended family/carers. The cost of poor compliance is substantial, not only interms of £/$, but also on an emotional and physical level.
At present, doc prescribes medication to patient and they (depending upon their preconceptions, disease severity, lifestyle impact etc) are essentially left to their own devices to take/not take the medication. Go forth and erm, pop dem pills…
You’ve got mail!
To improve compliance, pharma companies/health service providers may implement a patient support programme; enrolling new patients and providing them with timely/targeted advice and materials to guide and support the regimen journey. These programmes are often rolled out through allied services (eg NHS Direct), via postal mailers and through website registration where the patient can access a dedicated site, download materials, receives emails, updates etc. This is all well and good, and a few programmes actually work, but it’s not personal enough – not really interactive or in real time. And the patient generally has to wait to receive material through email, post and telephone calls…pending agency development of materials, client sign off, error at printers…post strikes yada yada yada…
Good days, bad days
For some conditions, esp. depression, the journey starts with a generally good response to the drug followed by a severe dip (side effects kick-in eg sleeplessness, anxiety), before returning to some kind of tolerable pre-dip plateau. This dip time is where patients are lost, alone and in dire need of support. And making endless trips/calls to the doctor isn’t always feasible. This is the period where reassurance and feedback is vital.
There’s somebody at the door!
• Knock knock!
• “Who’s there?”
• ipad patient support app! (The MedMate, [Brand name]-Mate, iCompanion…Pill-Buddy, anyone?)
Enter! A personalised ipad centric approach to compliance would work wonders and achieve tangible, measurable results. Imagine a highly personalised programme/app that could support the patient in real time (think: somewhere near the ballpark of the paperclip widget in Word)….Hmm, maybe not that particular chap
Magic…tell me more!
The app could be simply and quickly personalised (by the patient themselves or in collaboration with doc) with patient name, regimen etc The interface could be in the form of a table top, football pitch (like desktop wallpaper) and allow them to move assets (eg calendar, note pad – see below) around and organize as one does in their own home – the feeling of control. The ipad version should also be co-developed and scaled for iphone too.
The Med-Mate app would provide the patient with a platform, and empower them to;
1. Learn more about their condition through a variety of mediums eg video, books, visuals…
2. Learn more about the medicine they are taking. We’re living in the age of the ‘pull’ patient who increasingly scours the net for info before going to see doctor. Topics covered incl.
a. SEs, contraindications…essentially a patient friendly PI (words, images and video)
3. Track their journey
a. Patient can share this info with doctor – enabling physician to better understand, detect, and improve compliance
b. Detail how far they’ve come, what they’ve achieved (visual timeline/schematics/report)
4. Remind them to take pills, e.g.
a. link to alarm, calendar)
5. Access targeted materials at every step of the journey, based upon their individual inputs into the app, e.g.;
a. Supportive advice/materials, incl. health, lifestyle, benefits of staying on course
b. Videos of phenotypically similar ‘patients’ talking about how they felt at that stage
c. Strategies to overcome the dip/hurdle and motivational tips to get through the day
d.
6. Reward them for staying on course by unlocking special features, e.g. games/puzzles.
a. These could be personalized to the individual profile of the condition being treated and/or age/particular interest of the patient e.g.
i. Patients with depression may receive mood enhancing benefits from viewing positive images, physically looking upwards (watch blue skies), bright colours etc
7. Let them keep a personal diary [research has shown that writing things down can enhance the likelihood of following through with a decision, plus helps you visualise your feelings! Therefore, allowing one some perspective and reflection to keep moving forward. At least, that’s how the theory goes..]
8. Capture Qs for doctor at next appointment through notepad/post it feature (pre-defined suggestions and their own)
9. Access to a patient community – and its associated benefits. The ipad app could connect to an existing one or one could be co-developed that takes into account ipad user interaction
10. Data could also be beamed back to a central database where additional interventions can be better timed, personalised and delivered in real-time e.g.
a. Phone call from doctor, programme appointed nurse/support etc
Of course, one may feel that the app detailed above is supplemental to already having a keen and committed patient. And they may be right, however a real-time ipad version has never (to my knowledge) been developed and it may prove to be the ‘killer’ med app.
The role of the doctor is, and should always be integral interms of educating the patient, instilling confidence and ensuring there is an open dialogue and each party has an equal responsibility to ensure long- and short-term success. An app such as this has the inherent potential to really connect the patient and doctor, whilst also serving as a mobile real-time support companion for the patient.
A skeleton framework for an app such as this could be scaled for any disease area as long the correct parameters (specific needs of the patient, their condition and associated mngt issues/interventions) are clearly identified and addressed as a content/structural component of the end-user interface and inherent functionality.
July 17th, 2010 | 10:05am
by Rupert Drapes
we have been delighted by the response to the competition so have decided to extend the deadline to the 31st July. This is the one and only extension. Keep them coming and we’ll announce the winner in the first week in August. Cheers Ian
July 19th, 2010 | 6:06am
by ian
patient menus and any speciel dietary requirements sent straight to the kitchen would be a usefull download for the i pad, or do what it says on the can cushion one side of it elastic strap round it and hey a black out eye pad
July 24th, 2010 | 7:34pm
by george
RE: EM’s option of using ipad to connect rep/HCP.
I worked with a company about 4 years ago on behalf of a client and the things you mention were already in existence as part of ‘closed loop marketing’ software for tablet pc’s. A small leap to transfer to ipad.
Site: http://www.proscape.com/
August 6th, 2010 | 9:29am
by Rupert Drapes
Hi – who won?
August 23rd, 2010 | 12:39pm
by Rupert Drapes