ORCHA recently participated in Digital Health Society’s Online Workshop ‘Connecting the dots in Maternity and Baby Care’. This workshop explored the interoperability aspects of maternity and baby care, including how different organisations are using information standards to improve maternity and baby care treatment.

ORCHA’s presentation outlined the rising popularity of women’s health and pregnancy apps, the increasing number of pregnancy apps, and thus the opportunity for increasing digital health adoption in maternity. There are currently 4,650 women’s health apps, with 3,280 of these pertaining to pregnancy.

In order to overcome some of the barriers to health apps being used in maternity, such awareness, accessibility, trust and governance, ORCHA has become a member of a partnership of 27 NHS organisations across Cheshire and Merseyside. The partnership, called Improving Me, aims to improve the experiences of women and children by supporting the local development of maternity, gynaecology, paediatrics and neonatal services.

Improving Me now has their own ORCHA microsite, allowing women in Cheshire and Merseyside to use ORCHA’s app finder to discover the safest, most effective and trustworthy health apps. The site also showcases the top-rated pregnancy, breastfeeding and sleep apps, amongst many more. As such, ORCHA is working towards interoperability by integrating mHealth into women’s healthcare.

Click here to watch the full Digital Health Society workshop, and take a look at ORCHA’s presentation here.

Mersey Care has added to its range of self help guides with a set of approved apps which present a fantastic opportunity to provide valuable health information which can help improve the quality of healthcare, but also help us to live healthier lives. The market is awash with apps, though, and we have no ability to see whether what is being downloaded will actually improve our health or if our personal data will be stored safely.

For these reasons, senior clinicians at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust have partnered with ORCHA, the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications. Mersey Care’s clinicians believe these apps will be useful for service users and patients.

ORCHA carry out independent and impartial reviews of health and care related apps, and you’ll see that the resultant information is clearly presented for us throughout the website. We can be reassured that any apps shown on this site have undergone a rigorous review process, and can feel confident as we choose the best app for us.

By bringing this information to our fingertips, it’s now possible to identify and compare the best apps for our needs – and to ensure that we, and our friends and families, can get access to quality assured apps that meet a standard that clinicians are comfortable with.

Deputy Medical Director Dr Arun Chidambaram said:

“As a Global Digital Exemplar, Mersey Care is working with partners to develop care that uses technology in the best way for our service users. I’m pleased to see this resource for patients and clinicians. It is to be used with care and in conjunction with professional medical advice and we believe it can offer accessible support across a range of physical and mental health issues.”

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has rolled out apps across its hospital and community services,
helping its self-management approach. Listen to Cheryl Thompson, CCIO explain how:

“Evidence Based Practice and research is what underpins what we do on a day to day basis. ORCHA provides us
with that real point of contact for apps that have been reviewed. So staff can trust apps they know
have been reviewed and know that they are safe to use.”

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that ORCHA is the March winner for the Merseyside Innovation Award (MIA)!

This award celebrates innovative companies and their achievements. With ORCHA currently engaged with organisations across Merseyside, the MIA recognises our contribution to innovation in Merseyside.

You can read more about the Award here, and watch ORCHA CEO Liz Ashall-Payne’s interview below.