New innovation: Top-ranked orthopaedic provider publishes first free physiotherapy app

Published February 9th 2012

UK Specialist Hospitals (UKSH), a leading independent healthcare provider to the NHS, has launched a physiotherapy app – Pocket Physio – for patients undergoing major hip and knee surgery. 

Pocket Physio is the first physiotherapy app designed by an orthopaedic provider specifically to help improve patients’ recoveries.

All appropriate UKSH patients are encouraged to use the app. UKSH has also made it freely available in the UK to anyone interested in finding out more about the physiotherapy involved in hip and knee surgery.

The Dr Foster Hospital Guide states that pre-surgery education “helps relieve anxiety and increases patient understanding” which is an essential part of a rapid recovery pathway. The UKSH model of care is designed around the needs of the patients and ensures that patients have access to and receive information that is comprehensive and easy to understand.

Pocket Physio is provided to patients on iPads at UKSH hospitals and is free to download for anyone with an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. The app features a host of pre- and post-surgery “how to” exercise videos and is part of UKSH’s innovative approach to ensure patients receive information that is relevant and appropriate for their treatment and recovery.

UKSH is committed to delivering the highest quality service to patients. Innovations such as Pocket Physio contribute to UKSH’s unrivalled clinical outcomes – UKSH was listed as the top provider for knee replacement surgery and third for hip operations in the country by the Dr Foster 2011 Hospital Guide.

Fiona Calnan, CEO at UKSH, outlined the motivation for developing Pocket Physio.  “Patient engagement, involvement and understanding are all essential to achieve excellent clinical outcomes. Pocket Physio improves the way that information can be accessed and understood. This innovation makes it easier for patients to learn exactly what they need to do to recover effectively. Because the UKSH app is so intuitive for patients, we hope that GPs and other providers throughout the country will encourage their patients to use Pocket Physio. That is why we have made it freely available for all patients.”

Keith Parker, a retired cabin crew worker, got to grips with Pocket Physio at UKSH’s Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre: “I think the app is suitable for anyone, at any age. It is easier to use than a booklet and it definitely helped me to start mobilising the new joint, which ultimately led to my successful recovery. It’s been six weeks since the operation and I’m now moving about freely.”

Use of an iPhone or an iPad offers patients quick and convenient access to reliable written and visual information. By creating Pocket Physio, patients treated at UKSH know that the app complements their evidence-based treatment plan.
 
Patients using Pocket Physio gain a better understanding of their physiotherapy exercises by seeing them demonstrated on screen. UKSH believes patients using Pocket Physio are also more likely to complete their physiotherapy exercises.

Dr Sue Frankland, a GP from South Gloucestershire who advises UKSH, said “in the past, patients have often struggled to understand exactly how to carry out their physiotherapy exercises and sometimes have given up as a result. I was delighted to see patients using UKSH's new app because it helps them understand precisely how to carry out their exercises and also why they are so important to ensure a full and rapid recovery. It is certainly something that I will recommend to patients.”

Adrian Rockey from Devon used Pocket Physio during his visit to UKSH’s Peninsula Treatment Centre: “I’ve only just started texting, so I’m in no way computer literate.  However, I found the iPad and app easy to use.  The design of the app is very good and I would say that it’s easier to use than the usual booklet of physiotherapy exercises.”

 
 
- ENDS -
 

Notes to editors:
 
1. The Pocket Physio App is available to download from the iTunes store for free via http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pocket-physio/id496877858?mt=8 (or search iTunes for “Pocket Physio”). Feedback from users who have already downloaded the app is also visible on this page.
 
2.    The Dr Foster Hospital Guide 2011 was published on 28 November 2011 and can be downloaded at http://www.drfosterhealth.co.uk/. Pages 34 to 35 cover treatment for hip and knee replacement and the lists of best providers for hip and knee operations are shown on page 35.
 
3.    UKSH is a leading UK healthcare company with a first class record of delivering high quality patient care and treatment to NHS patients.

4. Over 83,000 NHS patients have been treated at UKSH centres, including almost 10,000 joint replacements.
 
5.    UKSH currently operates five centres in the South West, including Cirencester NHS Treatment Centre (Gloucestershire), Devizes NHS Treatment Centre (Wiltshire), Emersons Green NHS Treatment Centre (Bristol), Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre (Plymouth) and Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre (Somerset)
 
6.    The hospitals focus on providing specific planned procedures for NHS patients, offering shorter waiting times, increased NHS capacity, and giving patients more choice in where they can be treated
 
7.    UKSH treatment centres offer diagnostics, knee and hip replacements, ear, nose and throat procedures, endoscopy, eye surgery, gynaecology and urology.
 
8.    All NHS patients have the right to choose where they wish to receive their treatment in England. Patients should discuss their treatment with their GP and they will provide them with a choice of suitable hospitals where they can be treated

 
For further information, please contact:

Dan Madden
0117 906 1879
DMadden@uk-sh.co.uk

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