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Rheumatology CONNECTPlus: helping Torbay patients in one place

HCI worked with Dr Kirsten Mackay and specialist nurse Rian Penford at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to build Rheumatology Connect, an app for patients. It later helped shape CONNECTPlus.

Why we built it

Patients with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis often have a lot to learn about their condition and medication. The team wanted an easy way to give patients this information, help them manage their condition, and free up staff time.

Built with patients

We asked Torbay patients what they wished they'd known after diagnosis. They even chose the app's name. The first version included:

  • 12 videos about conditions and treatment
  • Information on medication and self-care
  • Local details, like clinic locations and contact numbers
  • A click-to-call button to reach nurses and consultants quickly

Growing with feedback

After launch in 2019, the app was downloaded 804 times, and over 1,000 people used the "Contact Us" page in the first year. Patients asked for more content and features, so we added:

  • 11 new videos, including general health topics
  • Push notifications to share useful updates
  • More contact details for other specialist teams
  • A survey to keep improving the app

Patients said the app was clear, easy to use, and helpful whether newly diagnosed or living with their condition for years.

What it has delivered

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  • Switching from face-to-face to video education cut nurse time per patient from 45 minutes to 15, and nearly tripled how many patients a nurse could see per hour - with satisfaction staying high.
  • Medication education clinics have been reduced from 4 to 1 per week
  • Patients seen per nurse hour has risen from 1.33 to 4, and the nurse cost per patient has reduced from £13.48 to £4.09
  • "We have had a number of spontaneous contacts from patients saying how valuable they find the information we have given them."
  • Hear it in a patient's own words: watch the patient testimonial video.

What it led to

Rheumatology Connect's success helped shape CONNECTPlus, the platform HCI now uses across many NHS partnerships.

You can read the papers here:

Penford R, Gwynne C, Reith A, Wren E, et al. P022 Successfully using video for DMARD and biologic patient education. Rheumatology 2023.

Mackay K, Kelly H, Clemence M, Penford R. AB1347-HPR Digital solutions to aid self-management: developing a rheumatology app for use by any patient attending our department. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2020.

Mackay K, Penford R, Whitney D, Ailasmaa S. O12 Developing a rheumatology app to aid self-management for Torbay rheumatology patients. Rheumatology 2019.

If you'd like to know more about CONNECTPlus, please contact us here.