Join our free webinar
We’ve had some wonderful feedback following our previous blog posts in relation to COVID-19, and we’re so glad to learn that some of our messages are helping people in this time of crisis.
However, we want to do more to support those on the front line, and, as such, we are running a series of webinars in the upcoming weeks. The aim of these webinars is to help health and care workers learn about which apps can provide the best support to their vulnerable communities, and how to recommend them to patients and service users.
Click here or click on the banner below to sign up for our next free webinar, which will be held on Tuesday 7th April 2020 from 11:00-12:00 BST.
Missed our last webinar? Click here to catch up!
How can health and care apps keep pressure off the NHS?
With people over 70 and those with underlying health conditions to stay at home (1), digital health resources have never been so important to manage conditions and help wellbeing.
Health and care apps, when used safely, help to keep pressure off the NHS in a time of high demand, as well as allowing patients to protect themselves and others from unnecessary risk. However, app stores are unregulated, and 85% of apps do not meet ORCHA’s quality threshold.
To support NHS efforts, below we have listed tested apps for you to be aware of that can offer support specifically for the elderly and vulnerable, including apps for managing COPD, medication reminders, mental wellness and general wellbeing.
Each of the following apps meet ORCHA’s quality threshold for apps that are safe to use.
ORCHA helps the NHS to assess and build apps into practice. Please feel free to get in touch with us at hello@orchahealth.com if you’d like any more information or advice.
————-
Experts think that coronavirus can survive on surfaces, possibly for days, so it’s important that your phone – at home, mobile or at work – is cleaned thoroughly and often. As modern phones tend to be water-resistant and sterilising wipes could damage the screen, you could clean your phone with regular soap and water and a single-use paper towel – but do check your phone is water-resistant before you try it. (2)
————-
*may include in-app purchases
With a wealth of useful apps on our App Library, the above is not an exhaustive list.
Sources:
(1) GOV.UK: Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK
(2) Coronavirus: Eleven of your most popular questions, answered
As schools across the UK close to most children, 8.2 million young people will now be kept at home.
As schools across the UK close to most children, 8.2 million young people will now be kept at home. (1)
The present COVID-19 situation is stressful for everyone, never mind the youngest within our communities. As such, we’d like to suggest some useful resources that can help to support children and young people during this difficult and uncertain time.
Embracing their love of smartphones, apps can keep children and young people engaged with their health and wellbeing, as well as relieving pressure on the NHS.
App stores are, however, unregulated, and 85% of apps do not meet ORCHA’s quality threshold. To share knowledge and resources, we’ve pulled together a list of apps suitable for children and young people, all of which are safe to use according to our evaluations, covering:
ORCHA helps the NHS to assess and build apps into practice. Please feel free to get in touch with us at hello@orchahealth.com if you’d like any more information or advice on finding suitable apps to help you, your family, or your patients with self-managing health and care during this time of uncertainty.
———–
Experts think that coronavirus can survive on surfaces, possibly for days, so it’s important that your phone – at home, mobile or at work – is cleaned thoroughly and often. As modern phones tend to be water-resistant and sterilising wipes could damage the screen, you could clean your phone with regular soap and water and a single-use paper towel – but do check your phone is water-resistant before you try it. (2)
———–
*may include in-app purchases
With a wealth of useful apps on our App Library, the above is not an exhaustive list.
Sources:
(1) GOV.UK: Guidance for schools, colleges and local authorities on maintaining educational provision
(2) Coronavirus: Eleven of your most popular questions, answered
Enticing sentence to get that click!
Our reports give you new insight into the needs of your pupils. You can find out which health conditions and apps are being searched for on your Digital Healthy Schools site. You can also see which apps have been viewed and downloaded.
To find out more and to set up receiving reports for your school’s DHS site, please email Emily Hawley, Customer Success Manager, at emily.hawley@orcha.co.uk.
Lots of schools use the AppFinder as a tool within their pastoral care provision, as the platform features the ability for teachers and support staff to find and discretely recommend apps to students via text or email, to make sure students use the correct app.
You can keep track of all your recommendations and see which students have downloaded the recommended app.
To switch on this feature, teachers can request a recommending account by sending an email to Emily at: emily.hawley@orcha.co.uk
We know you won’t achieve your ambitions to improve the health of your pupils with our programme if you don’t shout about it, so we’ve got lots of resources to help you to promote the programme to teachers and pupils. From posters, postcards, website banners, to Instagram gifs, we have a wealth of resources to help you.
To discuss how we can help supply you with the right material, please email hello@orcha.co.uk