The Journal of mHealth Vol 2 issue 5 (Oct) | Page 18

Industry News

Partnership Develops National
Epilepsy App

A mulit-disciplinary partnership of health and technology
providers have announced the introduction of a self-help app
designed to support anyone with epilepsy to take better care of
themselves.
The app, called EpSMon (Epilepsy Self Monitor), is a self-help
tool aimed at anyone who experiences seizures. It provides lifesaving knowledge to people with the condition by allowing them
to assess their risk every three months, say the team behind it.
It has already been included as part of an epilepsy toolkit to be
used by NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups across the United
Kingdom.
Created by a team of partners based at Plymouth University;
Cornwall Foundation NHS Trust; Royal Cornwall Hospital and
SUDEP Action, the solution provides a digital version of the
SUDEP and Seizure Safety Check List.
EpSMon is designed to prompt users to see their doctor when
their risks increase and suggests simple ways they can lower this
risk, say its creators. The app asks users for information about
their epilepsy, including their last appointment, information
about seizures and their general well-being, analysing answers
to generate advice ranging from 'all clear, no further action
required' to 'make an appointment with your doctor now.'
That analysis can be shown to a GP to help them decide the best
treatment regime for their patient as well as helping to facilitate
meaningful person-centred communication of key risk issues. 
Fatalities including Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy
(SUDEP) do happen in some people with epilepsy. EpSMon
shows users which risks are getting better, which have worsened
and which have stayed the same. This data can then be

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shared and used to help plan care options.
"People with epilepsy are often not accurately informed about
the risks, in particular Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy.
This device not only informs people about those risks but also
gives information about how to modify them, so empowering
patients and carers. Moreover, it provides an invaluable summary for GPs and hospital specialists involved in their care."
Comments Professor Matthew Walker of University College,
London.
Since its official launch in July the app has received significant
acclaim, from both healthcare professionals and people with
epilepsy, and has now been included within an Epilepsy Commissioning Toolkit for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)
across England. The toolkit is a web-based hub of information,
advice and evidence needed to improve or commission epilepsy
services for children and adults across their local area. It aims to
help inform the decision making process of service design and/
or improvements, guiding CCGs