Optimally integrating digital healthcare applications into existing healthcare processes
World market leader in the assessment of care applications: ORCHA (Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications) and eHealth knowledge platform NeLL (National eHealth Living Lab) are entering into a strategic, international partnership.
The parties will jointly fulfill their shared mission to optimally integrate digital healthcare applications into existing healthcare processes. In this way they want to contribute to the international development of optimal, future-proof care.
“To arrive at a process in which the healthcare professional will also recommend digital tools to his or her patient, we must know for sure which eHealth tools are effective. That is why research into and validation of digital healthcare applications is a must,” says Niels Chavannes, founder of NeLL and professor of eHealth at the LUMC.
One of the first steps ORCHA and NeLL take is to prove which tools are effective and reliable, so that the healthcare professional knows what he or she can recommend to the patient and the healthcare consumer understands what safe and efficient apps are that support him effectively with self-care. In addition, ORCHA and NeLL will proactively share their knowledge and insights and advise parties on areas such as quality, implementation and scaling up of digital healthcare applications.
ORCHA, originally an English organisation, has developed an infrastructure in recent years to collect new and updated versions of eHealth applications on a continuous basis and to assess them on basic elements. Works in the United Kingdom have been commissioned by the NHS, among others. In the partnership with NeLL, the ORCHA team will focus on further technical and data-driven development for assessing eHealth apps.
“The range of health apps is huge. These apps are available to everyone and are not checked for publication in the app stores. We are constantly engaged in scanning the offer and reviewing apps in order to separate all nonsense from the usable tools, ”explains Tim Andrews, co-founder of ORCHA.
NeLL is also a global leader when it comes to scientific research into digital care and the development of research methodology and standards for eHealth. For example, they are currently working on an international standard for the development of health applications on behalf of NEN / CEN. In this collaboration, the NeLL team will therefore focus on the further development of scientific evaluation and the analysis and optimization of criteria and methodology.
“The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport wholeheartedly supports innovation initiatives such as ORCHA and NeLL. We need this international cooperation in order to organize healthcare in a smarter way and to be able to exchange medical data securely, ” says the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
The original press release can be found here on nell.eu
What is ORCHA’s solution to the digital health challenges of awareness, access, trust and governance?
What is ORCHA’s solution to the digital health challenges of awareness, access, trust and governance? Liz Ashall-Payne, CEO of ORCHA, was interviewed by HETT on applying solutions to the NHS. Understand more about our approach to the adoption of trusted mHealth apps in the video above.
Find out what this means and how to apply
The NHS London Procurement Partnership (NHS LPP) develops and manages collaborative procurement projects on behalf of its members, including NHS clinical commissioning groups and acute, community, mental health and ambulance trusts.
Operating as a centre of commercial excellence, it delivers significant and sustainable cost and service improvements to the health economy relating not only to the procurement of digital technology, but also workforce, medicines optimisation and pharmacy, and estates and facilities management.
In order to provide NHS healthcare providers and the wider health and social care economy with the safe and efficient roll-out of mHealth applications, NHS LPP is introducing a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) that will enable a streamlined and compliant route to market.
As part of this opportunity, NHS LPP is inviting suppliers to submit apps for inclusion in the DPS.
All apps that apply will undergo an assessment by the Organisation for the Review of Health and Care Apps (ORCHA) and this will inform the selection decision made by NHS LPP. ORCHA’s review will look at 260 aspects of the app. Full details can be found at: Reviews & Accreditations
Serving a population with a wide range of health conditions, the programme is looking to include apps that address all conditions supported by the NHS and the health and social care sector. This includes mental health, women’s health, child health, diabetes, blood pressure and more. Apps may support the patient or the running of the organisation.
The tender will be open for applications from w/c 30 September 2019 at www.tendersdirect.co.uk and the DPS will go live before the end of November 2019.
This programme aims to deliver cost effective, safe and effective apps into public sector services across the United Kingdom.
To apply, developers should first register as a supplier on the NHS LPP procurement portal Proactis. Full details can be found at: https://www.lppsourcing.org/
How to personalise an app experience with privacy settings
Here at ORCHA, we’re continuously testing and questioning apps, on the lookout for apps which are safe, secure, easy to use and, most importantly, deliver real health outcomes. We now look at 226 elements, to help give health professionals and consumers an informed choice on which health apps to choose.
To help app developers produce the best apps, we’re sharing tips from across the 226 important aspects, which together may help to set your app apart from the rest!
