Back in 2013 a patient asked "are there any apps that could help with my rehab". Ruth Siewruk, OT didn't know so she set about finding out.
The subsequent work generated the creation of the NHS app review service www.my-therappy.co.uk. Which has grown into an internationally recommended and utilised resource in over 175 countries.
"Mytherappy provides curated access to mobile apps that support Stroke self managed rehabilition" World Stroke Organisation,
"will make a real difference" Stroke Assocation.
The NHS mytherappy service provides health app reviews and recommendations on a variety of conditions. It is freely accessible and offers impartial NHS advice. They aim to help you find the right app for recovery and rehabilitaiton. All of their apps are tried, tested and clinically assured by their national network of clinical testers.
All apps go through a digital safety check developed in conjunction with NHS digital. Then they are tested by the national network of clinicians, patients and carers.This unique quality means that all the apps they recommend have been tried and tested within the NHS by real NHS clinicians.
The service started with the North Devon Health Care Trust Stroke team exploring if anyone knew of any apps that could help. They quickly realised the potential and the gap in knowing which apps were reliable. After speaking with clinicians across the Southwest they identified the demand. Working with NHS digital, the health apps library and the Stroke association they formed the testing criteria and testing network. They tested thousands of apps and wanted to share their findings. With the help of the Academic Health and Science Network they launched the website.
You can find apps on the website for a variety of health conditions such as Stroke & difficulties such as thinking, arms and fingers, vision, mood, being active, healthy lifestyle and more.
In the past they have focused on identifying apps for specific health conditions. In response to the rise in mobile health during covid-19 the mytherappy website has now expanded to include apps for healthcare professionals. This includes Nurses and AHPs.
As well as expanding the service to include apps specifically for professionals. Ruth and team have also added a new clinical zone to the mytherappy website which provides tips and information on how to encorporate technology into practice, how to keep patients digitally safe and the all important evidence base, behind using apps.
Ruth and team believe that digital skills are an essential part of modern day practice and as such they provide training to other health care professionals. "We want others to learn from our mistakes, its been a big change to practice and we want to make this easier for others". To upskill the next generation they also added students into their national testing network, giving them a headstart in knowing how to evaluate apps and keep their patients digitally safe.
The service believes that:
Apps can improve your recovery and are a useful treatment tool.
Selecting the right app is key.
Information should be easily and freely available for patients and clinicians.
Helping patients recovery is our priority.
The service is now helping people worldwide. It forms part of the UK Stroke Association recommendations and is internationally recommended by the World Stroke Association, Brain Injury Australia and more. They were runner up in the Advancing health care awards in 2017 and even won a penguin Fab NHS award after launching the service.
Ruth and the team are delighted and humbled by how far it has come and how many people it has helped. "its amazing to see all the messages of thanks from people. We set out to help one person and have helped hundreds of thousands"
For more information please contact the mytherappy team or Ruth. [email protected], [email protected] @RehabRuth @mytherappy.