Runner up Most innovative patient/people developed digital technology
This category recognises people accessing health or care services who have found digital solutions to problems they face. This may be developing a new digital technology or it may be about using an existing technology (including social media) in new and innovative ways
Tap2Tag – By simply tapping an NFC (near field communication is the set of protocols that enables smartphones and other devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching the devices together or bringing them into proximity to a distance of typically 10 cm (3.9 in) or less) enabled phone against a tap2tag wristband, card or key fob, this allows first responders to get access to a patient’s medical information in about 35 seconds. The system works without NFC too and the information can be accessed from any internet enabled device. There is security to pass through before accessing the information but it can also notify emergency contact a by text and email when a device is scanned.
Website: www.tap2tag.me
More about Tap2Tag
In 2012 my 87 year old mother was house bound and receiving care four times a day. Every three months or so she would have a fall or urinary infection that would result in an ambulance being called. The first question they always asked was “What is her current medication?” We would keep her medication up to date in a Word document, print it out and pin it to the notice board in the kitchen. At that same time, I was introduced to a technology built into most smartphones called Near Field Communication (NFC). I thought that it would be a good idea to keep mum’s medical information in the cloud and then give mum something (like a wristband) that linked to that medical profile. This would mean that, whereever she went, we knew that she was carrying her medical information with her.
It took 16 months to develop and was launched in May 2014. Unfortunately my mother passed away before she could benefit from the system but it is now being used by over 750 people. The epilepsy charities were first to see the benefits for their members and we have worked closely with Epilepsy Action over the last 12 months. Following a trial in late 2014, Epilepsy Ireland now offer tap2tag wristbands as free gifts to members signing up for two years and also for sale on their website.
Over 11% of our customers have taken the time to review our product, averaging at a 5 star rating. They like it because they cost £20 with no subscription fees and can store almost unlimited amounts of data.
A brief story of how Tap2Tag has been used – a mum was diagnosed with Epilepsy in early 2014. She has three children of whom two are disabled. Just after Christmas she was in the bathroom when she had a seizure. She collapsed and hit her head. Fortunately carers were in the house looking after her children. They heard the bang upstairs and broke down the door. After calling an ambulance the nine year old daughter tapped mum’s wristband with her mobile phone. Instantly she received a phone call from dad who had just received a text message saying that his wife’s device had been activated. After speaking to his daughter he arrived home just after the paramedics and the nine year old daughter was showing the paramedics all of mum’s medication and history. Paramedics report that it is saving them between 30 minutes and 2 hours when dealing with someone with a tap2tag wristband.