A Plymouth-designed app that helps to carry out dementia screening tests has been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories of the world's largest healthcare awards programme, the HSJ Awards.
In a record pool of 1,500 applications, ACEmobile, developed by Dr Craig Newman from the University of Plymouth and Dr Rupert Noad from University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, has been shortlisted in the ‘Innovation in Mental Health’ and ‘Using Technology to Improve Efficiency’ categories.
ACEmobile is the first tool of its kind, supporting doctors and nurses through the whole process of a common dementia screening assessment known as the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE III). The ACE III consists of 19 activities testing cognitive domains including attention and memory processing. It uses the benefits of computerisation, such as on-screen instruction, to empower more members of the clinical team to feel confident carrying out screening for dementia.
A free-to-use iPad based tool, the app has been developed using human factors testing to reduce the error rate when used in routine clinical practice.
Designed by clinicians for clinicians, the app also collects secure and anonymised data to allow the team to improve their understanding of dementia and ability to detect it earlier.
ACEmobile currently has 1,000 registered clinical users, and it is free for clinicians and clinical teams to access.
The HSJ Awards final is due to take place at the Intercontinental at London’s O2 on 21 November.
Dr Newman, who is part of the University’s Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine (ITSMed) said:
“ACEmobile is an innovative method of solving two dementia related problems with one solution – it provides a free means for clinicians to support the reliability, accuracy and efficiency of ACE-based assessments in dementia clinics whilst also generating research data to improve the assessment of dementia into the future. The fact it has been shortlisted for such prestigious national awards is a privilege, and I hope it helps more clinicians to see its benefits.”
The news follows another recent success for Dr Newman after his award-winning app ‘EpSMon’ (Epilepsy Self Monitor) – which helps people with epilepsy to reduce risks associated with epilepsy – was one of six projects chosen by the NHS to celebrate digital innovation within healthcare at its 70th year anniversary. EpSMon is also freely available for download on iTunes and Google Play.
