We propose developing a wearable technology for children to enabel them to report the pain they experience as they are being treated in the hospital in a low resource country. Our idea was selected by Harvard University and the Commonwealth Fund for disucssion on their Technology and Patient Engagement portal. We encourage ideas and responses to our posting, please follow the link:
Technology for Patient Engagement
Idea Smart watch to support pediatric patients living with painful chronic conditions
Idea submitted by: Global Organization for Maternal & Child Health: Sylvia Sosa, Valerie Kong, Board of Directors
Interactive device similar to a watch, or wearable technology, that engages the pediatric patient experiencing pain from chronic disease such as cancer and HIV/AIDS. “Pain watch” allows the child to press a button at the time pain is experienced. Button options describe their pain based on the “Wong Baker” pain faces rating scale in real time, allowing patient to engage in everyday life, while improving pain assessment by primary care clinician, enabling clinicians to manage and understand needs of the child. The pain watch should transmit on a cellular system, not Internet, to allow for use in a low-resource setting.
This device targets low resource settings where access and communication with care providers is lacking, and outreach and education to the community is scarce, in a culture where information related to their condition could otherwise be ignored by caregivers due to taboos related to disease and death. Children will learn the basic functions of the pain watch and record their pain score instantly. This product is meant to be simple and easy to use in low resource areas, with responses stored at a secure central database accessible by care team.
Tool improves:
• Pediatric patient – physician interaction
• Understanding of pediatric pain from disease
• Healthcare outcomes including prevention of escalated symptoms, and costly complications
Please post comments to their site! http://www.ghdonline.org/breakthrough-health-it/discussion/smart-watch-to-support-pediatric-patients-living-w/
The Global Organization for Maternal & Child Health Blog 