Dr Tom Micklewright discusses his views on three apps for remote asthma management that have scored well in ORCHA’s Review.
The question of how patients can best look after their health, especially if they’re in a high-risk category, and whether patients should be increasing their medication just in case, are all concerns GPs have to deal with on a daily basis.
Below, we share how health apps can help those with respiratory conditions. Dr Tom Micklewright shares how he has been using the COVID-19 App Formulary, and gives his personal, practical view on three apps which can help patients better manage their asthma at home.
With 61.4% of the asthma apps we’ve reviewed scoring below ORCHA’s quality threshold, it’s important to understand which apps are clinically assured and safe to use.
In the video below, hear Dr Tom Micklewright discuss the importance of empowering patients to self-manage their health, and the role of digital health.
Dr Micklewright demonstrates the myAsthma app, shares his views, and explores the medication diary, forecasters for mapping out triggers, and personalised action plans which can all be accessed in the app, giving patients more control over their asthma:
Click here to view ORCHA’s review of the my mhealth suite of apps on our dedicated COVID-19 App Library.
Dr Micklewright explains why the Zephyr Guide app can be great to signpost patients to for their annual asthma reviews, especially when clinicians can’t actually see the patient. The app trains people to use their inhalers properly through a series of simple animations:
Click here to access ORCHA’s review of Zephyr Guide on our COVID-19 App Library.
For his insight into another top-scoring asthma app, Dr Micklewright demonstrates how the Smart Peak Flow app uses a smaller peak flow device to record peak flow in the app, via Bluetooth, or by connecting to the phone jack of a mobile device. The app allows users to monitor their peak flow over time, and gives recommendations based on their peak flow data:
Click here to read ORCHA’s review of Smart Peak Flow on the COVID-19 App Library.
Where can patients and health & care workers find asthma apps to help during the COVID-19 crisis? Dr Micklewright explains how ORCHA’s free COVID-19 App Library provides a helpful resource for accessing key apps during the pandemic:
We’re delighted to have already seen great interest in our dedicated COVID-19 App Library, and hope it continues to help professionals, patients and service users alike!
Visit the site and discover apps to help you, your patients, or your service users, at covid19.orcha.co.uk
To get your free three month ORCHA Pro Account: visit the site, click the ‘Sign Up’ button in the top right-hand corner, and use the upgrade code BEATCOVID19
If you already have an ORCHA Pro Account linked to your organisation’s Health & Care App Library, you will also be able to see the apps featured in the COVID-19 Formulary. The relevant apps will feature a clear ‘COVID-19’ banner in your Library.
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.
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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)
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*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)
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*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
Apps to support self-care for all during COVID-19
As the number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to rise across the globe, governments are taking action to manage the impact of the outbreak – including asking people to self-isolate if showing symptoms.
With fewer patients attending general practices in person, and an increasing number of people choosing to self-isolate at home, digital health resources offer a practical tool that can be called upon for remote self-management.
There is a plethora of apps that can help with health-management, remote-monitoring and staying healthy. Apps not only help to keep pressure off the NHS in a time of high demand, but also allow 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 support:
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@orcha.co.uk if you’d like any more information or advice on finding suitable apps to help you or your patients with self-managing health and care during this time of uncertainty.
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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. (1)
———————-
*may include in-app purchases
With a wealth of useful apps on our App Library, the above is not an exhaustive list.
Sources:
(1) Coronavirus: Eleven of your most popular questions, answered
(2) GPs told to switch to digital consultations to combat Covid-19
(3) Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) standard operating procedure