The website is the first of its kind in the UK and is designed to provide a rehab and recovery resource for patients and clinicians across the country. The project and the website have just been shortlisted for a national advancing health care award.
The project was started by the Stroke and Neurology team from Northern Devon Healthcare trust in conjunction with their patients. The testing team now forms a national network of NHS trusts and expert patients who test the apps using mytherappy’s unique critiquing system.
Ruth Siewruk, advanced practitioner occupational therapist for neuro and stroke and clinical lead for the project, said: “We are delighted to launch the mytherappy website and that is being so well received”
“We want to empower patients to manage their health in the way that is right for them, and this new website helps those who are recovering from a stroke or brain injury to do exactly that.”
Ruth with a patient
The mytherappy team have spent four years developing the project, which was started as a result of the high number of patients asking for advice on what apps can help them.
The project has just been shortlisted for an advancing health care national The results will be disclosed in March.
The response to the website has been very positive. “In love with your fantastic website … recommending it. Great Job!! (Different Strokes)”. “Will make a real difference. (Stroke Association)”. “Excellent (Headway)”.
The projects network of app testers is spread across the UK and includes clinical specialists and patients who have previously had a stroke or brain injury, and those who are currently receiving treatment. The network tests thousands of apps before the stroke team assess which should be included on the website.
NHS clinical specialists in stroke, neurology and head injury review the apps, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, nurses, psychologists and support workers. Patient app testers include stroke patients who face a variety of difficulties that the different apps can help with.
Each app comes with a profile, which includes information to help the patient, family member or clinician decide if it suits the needs of the patient. This includes cost, clinician rating, user rating, app description, feedback from users and a named category that shows what the app can help with.
The different categories are thinking, communication, arms and fingers, vision, my mood, eating and drinking, doing things, being active, relaxing, pain and got questions, a category that groups together information apps.
Each app’s profile also includes links to the App Store and Google Play so that users can easily download the app to their device.
The website has been launched with funding from the Trust and from the Academic Health Science Network.
Following demand from the therapy community the mytherappy team will also be running a one day workshop on “using apps and digital health for rehab” in May 2017. You can book your place by contacting them at ndht.mytherappy@nhs.net
Visit the website at www.my-therappy.co.uk
