Heart check app keeps patients out of hospital

Monitoring heart patients via a smartphone app prevented readmissions and sped up discharges in a pilot scheme that its developers hope will be introduced across the country.

Patients sent data including their blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels and details of developing symptoms to their clinical team on an app.

The figures were collated on a “dashboard”, which flagged any signs that a patient might need medical help, allowing doctors and nurses to bring them into hospital or alter their medication as required.

The 12-week pilot by Huma, a healthcare technology company based in London, involved 40 patients at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board in south Wales and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in north Wales.

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