NIHR Nottingham BRC - Associate Professor in Digital Technology and Mental Health

An exciting new post which has been created in the new NIHR Nottingham BRC Mental Health & Technology Theme. Please circulate the link to this post within your academic institution and networks.

Associate Professor in Digital Technology and Mental Health

http://nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/currentvacancies/ref/MED171217

The closing date is 6th July, with interviews to be held 13th July.

Apps library is advance for a digital NHS

On Tuesday 10th April the NHS launched two new digital platforms: NHS Digital Apps Library and a Mobile Health space for developers on Developer.nhs.uk.

The RCSLT Outcomes Project

 

The RCSLT Outcomes Project

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) has embarked on an innovative and ambitious project to support speech and language therapists with delivering and measuring effective outcomes.

In 2013, RCSLT members devised a list of criteria to identify an existing outcome measurement tool to enable comparable, valid and reliable data to be gathered from across the profession. Over 60 outcome measures, frameworks and systems commonly used by speech and language therapists (SLTs) were appraised against this set of criteria. Therapy Outcome Measures for Rehabilitation Professionals 3rd Edition (TOMs, Enderby and John, 2015) was selected as the ‘best fit’.

TOMs scales address four dimensions of an individual in line with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO, 2007).

·       Impairment – the severity of the presenting difficulty/condition

·       Activity – the impact of the difficulty on the individual’s level of independence

·       Participation – impact on levels of social engagement and autonomy

·       Wellbeing – impact on mental and emotional wellbeing

In 2015, the RCSLT Council approved the development of a proof of concept online tool to support collection of TOMs data.

Proof of concept pilot

The RCSLT Online Outcome Tool (ROOT) is a stand-alone system that has been developed to collect and collate outcomes data. Clinicians can use the tool to record and monitor outcomes for individual service users and access reports that show change over time in association with SLT interventions.

Users of the tool can input TOMs data for service users directly into the ROOT via a web-based application, or upload data that has been extracted from databases within existing electronic systems. The ROOT collects data about the individual’s age, gender and diagnoses and TOMs ratings at different points in time.

The ROOT aggregates data recorded by an SLT service and generates reports. These can be used by service managers to evaluate the outcomes delivered and support them with monitoring outcomes for specific clinical groups and evidencing the impact of SLT. Filters can be applied to the reports to drill down to specific clinical groups at the required level for data analysis and reporting.

Adult and paediatric SLT services across the UK are currently piloting the use of the ROOT, and the software is being developed in response to their feedback.

Project evaluation

An independent evaluation of the proof of concept pilot has been undertaken with services that are piloting ROOT (November 2016). Feedback from the pilot sites has indicated that ROOT, particularly the aggregated data reports, offers the potential to add value to SLT services, but further time is required to embed the use of ROOT into services to allow further testing. It was suggested that the reports generated by ROOT offer the potential:

·       to identify gaps in service and impact of resources

·       to evaluate service delivery models and specific therapeutic approaches

·       to benchmark against other services (offering the opportunity to compare and improve services, and inform commissioners)

Following consideration of the findings and recommendations of the independent evaluation, the RCSLT Board of Trustees approved an extension of the pilot for a further six months (December 2016). This will provide an opportunity for the SLT services engaged with the pilot to gain more experience of using the ROOT to collect data and generate and test the reports. During this time, the following key areas will be explored:

·       Further development of ROOT

·       Method of data collection - Direct data entry / export method

·       Aggregated data reports and their uses

·       Development of resources e.g. to support use of the ROOT, information governance

Phase 2: Framing TOMs as part of other resources available

In parallel to the proof of concept pilot, the outcomes project steering group has recommended the initiation of ‘phase 2’ of the project. This phase of the project will include scoping the use of other sources of data and the available resources, outcome measures and frameworks that can be used alongside TOMs to evidence the impact of SLT services.

References

Enderby, P. and John, A. (2015) Therapy Outcomes Measures for Rehabilitation Professionals, Third edition, J&R Press Ltd.

Further information

Information about the RCSLT’s journey with outcome measurement is available on the RCSLT webpages https://www.rcslt.org/members/outcomes/RCSLT_outcomes_project and by contacting RCSLT Outcomes Project Officer kathryn.moyse@rcslt.org.

AAATE2017 - Call for Papers open until 10.02.17

The Call for Papers for the AAATE2017 Conference is open until 10.02.2017 17.00 CET.

Please click here to see our new AAATE2017 flyer.

We invite you to submit a full or short paper to the Conference on ANY topic relevant to assistive or enabling technology as well as services that make use of such technologies.

Share your new knowledge or call for action in the domains of learning, communication, mobility, self-care, domestic life, relationships, employment and civic life.

Please submit your paper on ANY AT topic or one related to any of our 35 Special Thematic Sessions via the Conference Management Tool.

AAATE contributors:

Please share this with your networks and print the poster for your display boards. 

Technology, who cares?! Inaugural Lecture by Professor Luc de Witte

Join us at 5.15pm on Friday 10th March for Professor Luc de Witte’s Inaugural Lecture entitled “Technology, who cares?!”

In his talk, Professor Luc de Witte will discuss how technology can play a role in our search for new models of care and support. He will present examples of research that on the one hand show the potential but in the meantime illustrate the complexity of introducing technology in everyday care practice.

Abstract:

One of the most challenging trends in today’s healthcare in western societies is the increasing incidence and prevalence of chronic health conditions, paired to a decrease in the number of available healthcare professionals and a relative decrease of available financial means. This trend creates an enormous pressure on our healthcare systems and only few people will disagree with the statement that the sustainability of these systems is at stake. There is a clear need for new models of care and support for people with chronic conditions, including frail older people. Also, in developing low-and middle-income countries, the need for innovative concepts of care and support is increasing, since these countries have to develop healthcare systems that are sustainable and able to deliver cost-effective care for fast growing numbers of people.

Technology can and will play a major role in future health and care, both in western societies and internationally. There has never before been a time in which technology has developed as fast as it does today and in which so much knowledge was available. The potential to develop powerful answers to the challenges in health and care we face is therefore obvious. But, sparking and fostering this potential to the fullest is far from easy. Many new technologies have only lead to increased costs of care instead of more cost-effective sustainable models.

Date and venue:

Friday 10 March 2017

From 5.15 pm – 6.30 pm, followed by drinks reception

Lecture Theatre 1, The Diamond, University of Sheffield, S3 7RD

Professor Luc de Witte’s talk will be introduced by Professor Dame Pamela Shaw, Faculty Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health.

About Professor Luc de Witte:

Professor Luc de Witte is trained as a medical doctor, but has never practiced medicine. He has always worked on practice oriented research in the field of rehabilitation and long term care, including elderly care, care for people with mental or physical disabilities and care for people with chronic diseases. Before moving to Sheffield in October 2016 he was Professor of Technology in Care at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences and Maastricht University in the Netherlands, and Director of an Innovation Centre (EIZT: www.eizt.eu) connecting more than 35 partners in healthcare, industry and academia.

Professor Luc de Witte has recently been appointed within ScHARR to work in the Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare (CATCH). CATCH has as its mission to contribute to the sustainability of long-term healthcare in the UK and internationally through:

●      supporting the development of assistive and care technologies;

●      researching their added value and effectiveness;

●      supporting organisations in healthcare practice with the implementation of these technologies and care models;

●      supporting companies with the development and evaluation of new assistive and care technologies; and

●      training of professionals and researchers in this field and dissemination knowledge.

Booking is required for this lecture. The booking system will open on Monday 13th February 2017 here. If you would like to express your interest in attending this event and receive a reminder when registration opens, please contact Kathryn Rooney on k.rooney@sheffield.ac.uk or 0114 22 25453.

First Networking Lunch of 2017 kicks off with a bang!

The CATCH community gathered this week for the first Networking Lunch of 2017.

More than 30 academics, researchers, Professional Services staff, partners and visitors attended the lunch, held in the iconic University building, Firth Court.

We were delighted to be joined by Professor Mike Trenell with his presentation: Digital health and diabetes - hype or hope? Mike is a Professor of Metabolism and Lifestyle Medicine at Newcastle University. His charismatic talk resonated with the network as members of the audience eagerly asked questions on his research and the NIHR Innovation Observatory of which he’s Director.

Simon Butler, CATCH Centre Manager also excitedly shared the upcoming events that shouldn’t be missed in 2017. From Luc de Witte’s Inaugural Lecture and CATCH showcase on 10th - 11th March as part of the Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering to the AAATE2017 in September, where the Call for Papers is open until 10th February 2017.

The next Networking Lunch will be held on Tuesday 14th March 2017 in conjunction with the ScHARR seminar series. In the Pemberton Lecture Theatre B, Regent Court, the lunch will take place at the earlier time of 12.00 - 14.00. Our guest speaker, Matthew Machin, mHealth Applications Manager in the Centre for Health Informatics at the University of Manchester will speak around “Improving Health in Long-term Conditions with Smartphone Apps and Wearable Devices.”

Please contact Laura Murray if you would like to attend (l.murray@sheffield.ac.uk)