Case Study: InhealthcareWe need to start viewing digital health as just “health”

Richard QuineProduct Director, Inhealthcare

Back in 2012 when we started, all the buzz then was about telehealth hubs and the Whole System Demonstrator.

So we started again. We focused on digital care models designed by clinicians, not technologists.

AnticoagulationBack painCare home monitoringChronic painCOPDDiabetesFalls monitoringHeart failureNutritionWeight management

For patients not on-line, services can also made available using an automated phone call system, or using SMS texts.

From the clinic and GP’s perspective there is no difference in patients who are on-line or off-line.

Digital health is not just about apps!

(And we also made sure we offered a low-tech option).

I will now ask you to enter your INR reading. The reading on the INR monitoring device should be

between 0.8 and 8.0. If the reading is between 0.8 and 8.0,

please press 1. If the INR reading is not between 0.8 and 8.0, please

press 3.

We recognised the huge importance of collaborative working and partnerships

Today Inhealthcare delivers digital services across the UK• We’ve created an N3-hosted cloud platform which is which is

integrated with primary and secondary care NHS IT systems. • For the NHS, our services mean that

– Patients can take more control of their condition– Better real-time information for clinicians– Patients require fewer face-to-face consultations – NHS services are delivered more cost-effectively

• For example, one clinic has avoided 21,000 out-patient appointments by enabling patients to self-test at home

• Inhealthcare has the technology and capacity to deliver digital health services to every person in the UK

Yet digital health is still not seen as mainstream

• When you mention digital health, it is usually thought of as different - new, unproven, risky.

• The mostly common suggestion when discussing digital health projects is ‘to run a pilot’ - even if the service is running successfully elsewhere in the NHS.

• The digital health sector can only be viable when the NHS incorporates technology as part of standard care models - not treat digital health as an experiment – and then commit to commissioning it based on the outcomes.

But change is happening – service redesign & infrastructure projects are now incorporating digital health from the start.

Leeds West CCG:Chronic Pain

Imperial College Health Partners: Atrial Fibrillation

Sheffield City Region:Long Term Conditions

Darlington Healthy New Town:Integrated health & social care

Summary• Digital health vendors need to behave less like a technology

company and more like the pharmaceutical industry– The entire pathway has to be considered, not just the digital bit– Cost needs to be evidence based and independently assessed

• Likewise innovation funding should focus on service redesign rather than technology initiatives– Grants from tech funds help small companies in the short-term

but it doesn’t solve the underlying problem• This combined approach will reap bigger benefits for the

NHS and create a sustainable market for the digital health sector.

Any Questions?

Thank You

richard.quine@inhealthcare.co.uk