Remote patient monitoring for advice and guidance, with photos, videos and messaging

Some ophthalmic conditions, particularly in oculoplastics and paediatrics, can usefully be monitored by patient-captured photographs and videos of the eye or face. Images captured by referrers using smartphones attached to slit lamps can allow assessment of microscopic disease processes.

Situation

Patients and care providers are poorly connected and there is no widespread, secure and clinically safe channel to allow instant messaging and image sharing. Using generic solutions like email is a stopgap – as volume of activity increases so does the administrative effort in managing the system with a corresponding increase in risk of clinical data not being actioned.

Aspiration

To allow instantaneous, asynchronous exchange of media and messages between clinicians and the cohort of patients they manage.

Solution and impact

NHS Forth Valley, local optometry practices and patients use vCreate to capture pictures and videos of patients’ eyes. The solution lends itself well to combination with other digital services – preseptal cellulitis diagnosed during a video consultation can be monitored for response to resolution in an unscheduled manner using vCreate. In this manner, in-person follow-up can be avoided.

Functionality

vCreate is a smartphone-based secure video messaging service that allows a two-way, managed exchange of videos, photos, and messages between patients and carers and clinical teams.

Capabilities

• Securely send videos, photos and messages
• Uploads are accompanied by key clinical questions
• Digital consent module customisable by service
• Speech-to-text dictation module and auto-translate option on clinical notes and messages
• Clinician timer to record time spent on each patient/video/photo/message
• Can be linked to electronic medical records

Scope

• The ability to send videos, photos and messages securely from patient to clinician.
• The ability to send videos, photos and messages securely from referrer or clinician to clinician.
  
• The ability to send videos, photos, and messages securely from clinician to patient.
• Supports advice and guidance, improved referrals, reduced investigations and second opinions.
• Available on any device.
• Can be used to provide patients with their own clinical information and images.
  

Find out more

Find out more on the vCreate website

Read about vCreate on Leo’s Neonatal website

Teeside Live website covers the app in context in an article here

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust website talks about using the app in its neonatal unit here

Read a feature on vCreate on the Health Tech Digital website here