ROBOTS FOR ADULT SOCIAL CARE 

As part of the Social Care Digital Innovation Programme and the Social Care Digital Innovation Accelerators projects, 69 local authorities have developed and showcased robotic digital approaches to assist in adult social care.

Run by NHS Digital in collaboration with the Local Government Association, the computer-controlled robots – known as ‘cobots’ – were trialled in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire.

The robotic devices are worn around the waist and lower back to support carers in lifting, holding and moving people without assistance.  

The cobots aim to lessen the risk of injury and fatigue among carers and reduce the need for two carers to work together.

PHILIPS ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF INNOVATION AND STRATEGY OFFICER

Shez Partovi has officially taken on the role of chief innovation and strategy officer at Philips, succeeding Jeroen Tas and reporting to Philips CEO, Frans van Houten.

Partovi brings his background as a clinician to the role, having trained as a physician at McGill University in Montreal and practised as a neuroradiologist for a decade.

He also encompasses entrepreneurial expertise and consumer knowledge, having previously taken on the role of chief digital officer for a large health system.

"One of the most exciting trends I’m seeing that's driving innovation in healthcare is an increasing focus on the experience. As individuals, we are at a point where our best experience anywhere is what we expect everywhere, and that means there’s a huge opportunity to innovate how we receive healthcare so the experience is superior," said Partovi.

VIZ.AI EXPANDS TO EUROPE WITH CE MARK

San Francisco-based Viz.ai has been awarded a CE Mark for its AI-powered stroke care software, establishing its adherence with European health, safety and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic area.

Through its software suite, Viz.ai's system synchronises stroke care by connecting multidisciplinary care teams, coordinating care and decreasing time to treatment.  

In the EU, stroke is the second most common cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability, but only an estimated 1.9 percent receive an endovascular procedure that removes blood clots.

“Minutes matter when you’re having a stroke, which is why Viz.ai is dedicated to reducing time to treatment and improving patient outcomes through improved care coordination,” said Chris Mansi, co-founder and CEO of Viz.ai. “The CE Mark allows us to bring our leading AI software to the EU, significantly expanding the number of patients we can help get access to life saving therapy.”

PALANTIR APPOINTS NEW UK MANAGING DIRECTOR

US-based software company Palantir Technologies has announced that it is bolstering its UK global health and life sciences capability with the appointment of a new managing director.

Dr Justin Whatling joins Palantir from Cerner and will work with a number of Palantir’s foundry clients, including NHS England and hospital trusts across the UK to help maximise the potential of Palantir’s software.

Dr Whatling told MobiHealthNews: “I am looking forward to steering Palantir’s health practice at a time when the need to support health systems has never been more apparent.

“I know from my previous roles how powerful data can be when utilised correctly and have witnessed first-hand how it can help streamline our health system’s infrastructure. I truly believe Palantir’s software that integrates data [in near real time] at enterprise level will provide a real boost to optimising care delivery at a time when we need this most to support COVID catchup and to support Integrated Care Systems establish and operate new care models up and down the country.”

LEVA CLINIC PARTNERS WITH BOOTS

London-based Leva Clinic, an online clinic specialising in chronic pain, has partnered with Boots UK & Ireland to expand its suite of digital pain services.

From today, Leva Clinic will become part of the Boots Health Hub, alongside other healthcare partners.

Leva Clinic’s in-house healthcare professionals have condensed expertise into a personal pain management programme, in the form of a web-based app. As part of the agreements, users will be able to purchase the pain management programme from Boots Health Hub, a marketplace that serves as a gateway to Boots and third party online healthcare services.

Programme topics include understanding pain, communicating about your pain, work, relationships, movement and medications. During the programme, patients have access to daily mindfulness practices from the clinical psychologist team, and instant chat with Leva Clinic’s health coach team.

Eric Bystrom, CEO at Leva Clinic, said: “The digital pain management programme has been designed by our multidisciplinary team of leading pain doctors, nurses, clinical psychologists, physiotherapists and people living with pain. We have created a best in class pain management app which is easily accessible online. We are very excited to partner with Boots to expand our distribution of the programme to patients throughout the UK as we believe that the better you understand your pain, the better you can manage it.”