What We Can Learn From The App Which Helps Clinicians Support Cancer Patients

Our focus currently may be on COVID-19, but sadly the grip that cancer has over so many lives is not going away. Behind a heart-breaking study in the Lancet, which found there could be more than 3,500 avoidable cancer deaths in England as a result of COVID-19, are the real-life stories of families torn apart. Adrian Rogers is one of those. He had an operation cancelled during lockdown to remove his tumours. Now the tumours have increased from six to twenty, meaning the operation is no longer possible and the diagnosis terminal.

Behind those cancer patients are also the clinicians dedicated to their role in a stressful environment which has only worsened. They have been hailed as heroes, which they are, and clapped for on doorsteps across Europe but their everyday working lives are no easier.

The power of real-time data for chronic diseases

The health tech company Careology has now launched Careology Professional to help clinicians monitor patients’ progress to improve care. For the first time, clinicians can monitor cancer patients remotely and in real-time.

Data from wearables, and input from patients about their progress, is aggregated in an easy to use dashboard for clinicians. The dashboard records data such as temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, weight levels and activity levels as well as mood and medication.

The live updates can alert both patient and clinician when urgent attention is required, for example, if someone develops a fever. Careology insists that the pathway of the patient contacting their clinician remain paramount, but the information empowers the patient to take action and also gives transparency to the clinician. Clinicians can also manage who they should contact, create call lists and prioritise patients depending on their needs.

For me, one of the most important outcomes is the way it helps clinicians get a more accurate overview of their patients’ symptoms outside of the consultation room. They can see how patients are reacting to treatment, how they’re coping and if things are getting better or worse. With this information collected efficiently and effectively, it empowers the clinicians to make better decisions in supporting their patients.

Dr Henry Carleton, Managing Director of Careology’s NHS Division, worked for the NHS for almost 25 years. He tells us, “cancer is an extremely complex disease, one which ideally receives consistent, scheduled treatment with minimal disruption. With Careology Professional, clinicians now have access to a level of real-time health data which has the power to improve clinical outcomes by facilitating early intervention, transform the patient experience and drive a more efficient model of service provision.”

Empower patients first in health tech

Paul Landau, the founder of Careology, started the company after his wife was diagnosed with cancer. “Whilst my wife underwent her treatment, I saw first-hand how little consumer-facing technology was available to support her. It was all too clear how digital technology needed to be used to provide support and reduce the burden placed on patients to report what can be time-critical symptoms or side effects from treatment. People often get this wrong, meaning issues become more advanced and complex than they would have done if identified early.”

That’s why Careology started with the patient-facing service; the patient comes first and is at the centre of their development. Careology Professional also empowers the patient to contact their clinician, taking that burden off patients who don’t want to bother their carers. It helps them feel in control and gives them tips and advice, such as healthy recipes, to help make life easier. This approach has helped them build trust with the person who is at the core of health care, the patient, and gave them a solid foundation to create Careology professional.

Build trust with your users while building your product

Careology’s has already seen recognition in their launch, their app is shortlisted by Macmillan Cancer supported as a recommended service, and they’ve been featured in the UK’s Top 100 Startups for 2020. Another pillar of their success is that they built the product with the experts who will use the product. Dr Henry Carleton manages their NHS Division to make sure that the NHS and medical practices are involved from the beginning; it means their product is based on solid results when they launch.

Furthermore, their advisory board includes several leading medical professionals, including Miss Joanna Franks, Consultant Breast and Oncoplastic Surgeon, The Wellington Hospital and University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Dr Benjamin Taylor, Clinical Oncologist, Guy’s & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

A future for treating chronic diseases

I truly believe the core of their success comes from their patient-first approach, which has helped them develop something useful and empowering. Linked with real-time data which gives a holistic view of a patient’s condition and progress. Careology’s approach and service is something which could help many patients with chronic diseases. For now, though, they are working hard to help cancer patients and their clinicians who certainly need extra support during this even more difficult time.