How to find the right app for rehab
Ruth Siewruk talks to OTnews about the NHS Mytherappy service and how it has been meeting the increasing digital demand during COVID-19 , as well as sharing her top tips for digital safety
© GettyImages / anyaberkut
According to NHS Digital , there has been significant increase in the use of mobile health and digital health worldwide , due to the COVID-19 pandemic ( https :// digital . nhs . uk ). This has been echoed by a significant rise in the number of therapists and patients accessing the NHS Mytherappy app recommendation service ( www . mytherappy . co . uk ).
Its digital health clinicians have responded to this by expanding their app recommendation service to now include apps specifically for health care professionals , including occupational therapists .
The NHS Mytherappy service provides health app reviews and recommendations on a variety of conditions . It is freely accessible and offers impartial NHS advice . It aims to help you find the right app for recovery and rehabilitation .
All of the suggested apps are tried , tested and clinically assured by NHS Mytherappy ’ s national network of clinical testers . All apps go through a digital safety check , developed in conjunction with NHS Digital .
The service offers app advice for difficulties such as thinking , arms and fingers , vision , mood , being active , healthy lifestyle and more . In the past , it has focused on identifying apps for specific health conditions , such as stroke , but it has now expanded into apps for health care professionals , including occupational therapists .
The Mytherappy service was started by Ruth Siewruk , an advanced practitioner occupational therapist , and the therapy team at Northern Devon Healthcare Trust .
‘ It was the solution created back in 2013 to answer a stroke patient ’ s question : “ Are there any apps that could help my rehab ?”,’ she explains . ‘ It has now grown into a globally-recognised and internationallyvalued , recommended and utilised resource for patients and clinicians .
52 OTnews December 2020