Sophie Porter
The tech company will aid in data reading and interpretation.
Cybersecurity
Also, Google blocks millions of scam COVID-19 emails.
In an exclusive interview, associate director for Health and Local Public Services at techUK Ben Moody talks about the company’s role in bringing together health tech and government.
The CEO of NHSX sent an email to staff highlighting that all potential conflicts of interest must be declared.
The UK government has released a statement in conjunction with many key players in the telecoms industry to announce their elevated support during the COVID-19 crisis.
healhtcare
Roundup: Israel benefiting from digital health structure, wellbeing text service for COVID-19 patie…
Also - VISIONABLE recruits Rachel Dunscombe as new CTO.
NHS
The scheme aims to improve access to health data for research and planning.
The American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) has made history in Lebanon as the first organisation to achieve Stage 6 of the HIMSS Electronic Medical Records Adoption Model (EMRAM) and Outpatient-EMR Adoption Model (O-EMRAM).
Scientists in Oxford have developed a faster-acting test to establish whether patients are infected with the coronavirus. A team from the University of Oxford’s Engineering Science Department and the Oscar Suzhou Centre for Advance Research (OSCAR) have been working to improve upon the current process, which can take up to two hours to produce a result and requires specialised equipment.
The newly developed test produces highly accurate results in half an hour. Its sensitivity enables it to identify the virus earlier than can be achieved with the current test, and it only requires a standard heat block to work. This could be particularly beneficial in rural or more isolated areas without access to the complicated equipment needed currently as it facilitates testing in, for instance, community health centres.
The test has already been trialled on 16 clinical samples in Shenzhen Luohou People’s Hospital in China and achieved a 100% diagnostic success rate. It is hoped that it will be rolled out to testing clinics within the next two weeks.
The team at Oxford is now working on a fully integrated version of the test that could be deployed in airports, clinics and homes.
WHY IT MATTERS
The UK is currently on the upswing of COVID-19 infections epi curve. This means that the number of confirmed cases is rapidly increasing every day, jumping by 1,700 cases between 20th and 22nd March.
The ability to swiftly and effectively test potential cases of COVID-19 will enable more people to be tested and strengthen measures to control the spread of the virus. It will also accelerate the treatment of patients, which could potentially diminish the virus’s more severe effects.
THE LARGER PICTURE
As COVID-19 sweeps the globe, there has been a huge effort to "flatten the curve" of those affected by the virus. This means trying to control the rate of infection so as not to overwhelm public services. Intensive care units (ICUs) across the country are already at capacity, with some cases of patients “spilling over” into recovery areas and taking over other areas of the hospitals.
A more efficient test could ease this strain on emergency services as the infection continues to spread, potentially limiting the number of deaths.
ON THE RECORD
Professor Wei Huang, one of the leading scientists of the team, says: “The beauty of this new test lies in the design of the viral detection that can specifically recognise SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RNA and RNA fragments. The test has built-in checks to prevent false positives or negatives and the results have been highly accurate.”
Professor Zhanfeng Cui, the director of OSCAR, says: “I am proud of our team that have developed a useful technology and can make a contribution in combating CoV-19, and we are very grateful to the hospital’s medical team … for their part in testing this new technology.”
Unable to obtain the original blueprints for the valves because of medical manufacturing regulations, Cristian Fracassi and Alessandro Romaioli of Isannova reverse-engineered one, creating and testing three possible working prototypes.
Although going against established protocol, the team were able to produce 100 3D-printed valves in 24 hours and at a cost of approximately $1 per unit. This is in stark contrast to the $11,000 it costs Intersurgical, the patent holder, to make the CPAP Hood System, of which the valve is a small part.
The printed valves have already gone on to successfully treat patients in Brescia and another hospital has already got in contact with Fracassi and Romaioli for assistance. The team have not publicly released the designs, stating that they are working for free and believe, where possible, the valves should be produced clinically.
WHY IT MATTERS
L’Ospedale di Chiara in Brescia was unable to procure the valves from its regular supplier, who informed the hospital that they would not be able to make any more in time to treat the 250 patients already in their intensive care unit, as the increased demand due to the COVID-19 outbreak had cleared them out.
The valves are an essential component of breathing apparatus used to treat patients suffering from coronavirus, a virus that primarily targets the lungs and air-passages. They are single-use and designed to be used for up to 8 hours at a time, meaning the number of valves needed far outnumbers the Hoods.
THE LARGER PICTURE
Italy has suffered over 5,476 fatalities so far (23 March) from COVID-19, surpassing China as the country with the highest death rate. The virus seems to be affecting the country worst, with a Case Fatality Rate of approximately 8.3%, over double the estimated world average.
Intensive care units across the country have already been filled and the country is enduring a complete lockdown while essential services try and get the situation under control.
ON THE RECORD
Cristian Fracassi responded to his involvement in the project: “There were people with their lives in danger, and we acted. Period.”
He added: “If we acted fast, it was only because with 3D-printing you can quickly attempt a small production that would be impossible on an industrial scale,” before clarifying that the official valves were of a higher quality.
Michele Fiani, who also took part in the project, highlighted the importance of collaboration in this uncertain time: “I hope that all the people understand that we have to work together [to] stop this pandemic. All of us have to stay safe and have to use our skills to help [those] who need it”.