iPads help British patients with ortho post-op care

It's not the first time we've heard this. If patients can use technology to report on their health care, they're more engaged than those using paper and pen.

Spinal surgery patients at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London are using iPads in the trial of a system to track their post-surgery progress.

iMedicalApps reports that HealthUnlocked Tracker helps patients record their progress on an iPad while in the clinic. When they go home, they can continue updating their information on online system, using an iPad or computer. HealthUnlocked is working on a version that will operate on other mobile devices, including Androids and BlackBerrys.

The new system gives medical staff live access to information on how patients get along after procedures.

Dr. Matthew Shaw is the lead surgeon in the trial.

"Having accurate information at my fingertips about my patients' recovery is groundbreaking," Shaw says. "It ensures that I can quickly get to grips with their perspective and provide them with first-rate health care."

It's not much of a surprise that 95 percent of trial participants prefer the new digital method over traditional paper systems-and fairly safe to wager a bet patient compliance with progress reporting will increase.

If the trial is successful, implications for patient care will be groundbreaking. Access to personalized feedback on patient outcomes will help surgeons tailor treatments to better meet individual patients' needs.

Patient reporting will also help physicians identify post-surgical complications, such as infections, more quickly than with traditional follow-up appointments.

The Guardian says Health Secretary Andrew Lansley visited the hospital for the system launch.

"This is a great example of how health care innovation can make a real difference to patients' lives," Lansley says. "We want to modernize the NHS because we believe that patients deserve the best and most innovative treatments available. We are committed to creating an environment in the NHS where new medical technologies like this can flourish."

About HealthUnlocked

HealthUnlocked is a UK company that develops web-based technology to aid patient-to-patient and patient-to-doctor communication. Their work supports, engages, and tracks patients with chronic conditions to improve care.