Application created by Camgenium assists prostate cancer patients in their treatment journey
Prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK, is projected to increase by around 15% between 2023 and 2040, with approximately 55,000 cases diagnosed annually currently[5]. This rise will present significant challenges for the healthcare system, as the increased caseload will strain resources, lead to higher mortality rates, and necessitate integrated support services for patients[1][4].
The Rising Tide of Prostate Cancer
The escalating number of prostate cancer cases will put a strain on the National Health Service (NHS) resources, with increased demand for diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of patients[1]. Higher mortality rates will also elevate socio-economic costs, including loss of life-years and increased palliative care needs[1][4]. Additionally, patients may experience psychosocial challenges post-treatment, which require integrated support services for quality of life improvements[4].
Challenges and Potential Solutions
Current prostate cancer screening in the UK is not fully targeted, leading to under-detection in high-risk groups and potential overdiagnosis in low-risk populations[1][2]. Diagnostic accuracy needs improvement to detect early-stage cancers more effectively and reduce unnecessary interventions[3]. Managing the increased caseload will require advancements in healthcare infrastructure, personnel, and funding[1].
Addressing these challenges requires embracing AI-driven diagnostics, targeted screening programs, innovative patient management technologies, and coordinated global health strategies[1][2][5]. The UK government is investing £168 million to support such innovations, including £10 million specifically for initiatives led by Cancer Research UK aimed at targeting at-risk men more precisely[2].
Introducing HealthiumPro
Innovative solutions like HealthiumPro, a cloud-based software solution developed by Camgenium in partnership with Professor Petre Cristian Ilie, aim to address these challenges by improving patient safety and outcomes before and after prostate cancer surgery[5]. The system has been built in compliance with ISO 13485, the regulatory standard for medical devices, and has prebuilt regulatory compliant modules[4].
HealthiumPro includes a centralised stent database to streamline the logging and tracking of stent insertions, which can help prevent infections and the need for major surgery if stents are left for too long[4]. The system also assists in the automation of writing surgical notes, allowing clinicians to add variables that change from patient to patient and correlate surgical data with patient-reported outcomes[4].
The HealthiumPro app provides features such as remote consent forms, pre-surgery information, access to recommended exercises, appointment information, and remote patient monitoring[4]. Camgenium's HealthiumPro system has been developed on the flexible Xenplate platform, which uses a modular, no-code software with built-in design tools, minimizing the need for bespoke coding[4].
Nationwide Implementation
The HealthiumPro system is ready for nationwide implementation in other healthcare settings. Camgenium has regulatory approval to host the platform on the NHS private network, HSCN, and currently, no national electronic stent register is used across the NHS, with some hospitals relying on paper-based logging with human oversight[4].
In conclusion, the expected increase in prostate cancer cases in the UK by 2040 will have profound impacts socially and economically. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach, including AI-driven diagnostics, targeted screening programs, innovative patient management technologies, and coordinated global health strategies[1][2][5]. The implementation of solutions like HealthiumPro will play a crucial role in improving patient care and outcomes in the face of this rising tide.
- Embracing AI-driven diagnostics, such as those used in HealthiumPro, could help improve diagnostic accuracy, potentially decreasing the risk of under-detection and overdiagnosis.
- Technology-based patient management solutions, like HealthiumPro, may help provide integrated support services for patients, ensuring quality of life improvements by addressing psychosocial challenges post-treatment.
- Integration of health tech innovations, like medical devices such as HealthiumPro, into hospitals' infrastructure can aid in preventing infections, streamlining logistics, and reducing the need for major surgeries.
- The adoption of health tech solutions - both AI-driven diagnostics and integrated patient management systems like HealthiumPro - is essential to address the upcoming surge in medical-conditions like prostate cancer and improve health-and-wellness outcomes for patients.
