getUBetter: Patient impact and digital inclusion

getUBetter is an evidence based, CE marked, digital self-management platform for all common musculoskeletal injuries and conditions including back, back and leg, neck, shoulder, knee, and ankle pain.

Overview:

getUBetter provides 24/7 self-management support, so people trust their recovery and are only re-directed to healthcare services when necessary. Patients are supported digitally through their recovery day-to-day with personalised, evidence-based behaviour change techniques which includes symptom checking, nudges, videos, exercises, and outcome measures. People can either self-refer for a condition or it can be prescribed during a virtual or face to face consultation.

I think it is a fantastic resource on its own but also because patients can then be referred on through the Wandsworth pathway directly.

–      Dr Ali Hassas, GP, Wandsworth

• The getUBetter team co-designed the app and web app with people with different physical, mental health, social, cultural, or learning needs of all ages to ensure the product is accessible to a wide range of users.
• Integration with the NHS app and EMIS provides capability to update patient records with key elements of a patient journey. This ensures that a patient’s assessed needs are met comprehensively, and GPs are kept up to date with the progress of their patient’s condition.
• The launch of a website “Clinical Portal” provides the capability to obtain real-time analytics of app usage and patients recovery at an organisational (CCG) or Sub-Organisational (GP Practice) level. This supports integration and development of getUBetter technology across a large organisation and enables GP practices to contribute to content that their patients have access too.
• Created capability to “bolt-on” local third-party long-term condition or prevention services.
• Developed more personalised and targeted exercises and content that patients receive during their recovery/prevention journey.
• The team has adapted the getUBetter technology to support carers in Care Homes deliver musculoskeletal support to residents.
• getUBetter has developed the technology to have a 200% zoom ability to support users with eye-sight difficulties.

Accelerator support:

• getUBetter’s NHS Navigator and DigitalHealth.London team supported the company in better understanding the complex NHS structure and requirements for digital health companies entering the NHS.
• The Accelerator programme supported getUBetter in developing and understanding new relationships in London whilst refining and testing their value proposition to fit NHS needs. This support was done through a series of one-to-one sessions with their NHS navigator.
• They were supported to develop an NIHR evaluation application supporting the collaboration between multiple organisations both inside and outside London.
• getUBetter’s NHS navigator and DigitalHealth.London Communication Team supported the getUBetter team organise and host a webinar discussing Digital Health Technology: Empowering patients to self-manage their MSK recovery.

We see the ever-expanding app as a major part of our service redesign going forward.

–      Jim Fenwick, CEO, Battersea Healthcare

Key impacts of the product:

• Common musculoskeletal injuries and conditions such as back pain account for up to 30% of primary care workload and cost the NHS £5 billion per year. A large percentage of this is waste as 80% of injuries will recover on their own with good self-management support. getUBetter is available to the whole population and provided wherever a patient interacts with the system e.g., primary care, occupational health, urgent care of physio.
• getUBetter is not just about triage but a whole pathway approach that does not redirect patients to use resource elsewhere unless absolutely needed. By supporting patients using evidence-based tools, it promotes safe self-management but also automates referrals for treatment appropriately.
• getUBetter can support approximately 20% of all GP appointments and reduce GP new and follow up appointments by more than 13%.
• It is estimated to reduce MSK Physiotherapy referrals by 20% and save every CCG (360,000 population) £1.96m in direct cost savings for back pain alone.
• getUBetter can also reduce prescriptions for MSK medication by 50% and evidence shows it reduced pain in 7/10 patients. 86% of users say it is easy to use and get started, and 71% believe the app helped them to self-manage.

The app is a great alternative to face-to-face time with my GP to manage my condition.

– Patient

Key successes so far:

getUBetter was one of the five recipients of Health Innovation Network Innovation Grants packages of £10,000 to £30,000 which have been awarded to help kickstart innovative health and care projects. This money has been used to pilot the use of getUBetter is St George’s A and E Department. The solution is now live across all Southwest London, has been rolled out across 3 integrated care systems and is to be rolled out in Southeast London. It has also been rolled out across the whole of Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucester. It is live to all Physiotherapy patients across Somerset. Additionally, it has been provided in Care homes to support carers in helping their residence (NHSx funded).

GetUBetter is currently one of twenty SMEs on the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme.

The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator is a collaborative programme funded by London’s three Academic Health Science Networks – UCL Partners, Imperial College Health Partners, and the Health Innovation Network, MedCity, CW+ and receives match funding from the European Regional Development Fund.