Kezia Allen, Associate Practitioner – Clinical Trials, Basildon Hospital
The demands on healthcare resources continue to escalate, with the COVID pandemic having exacerbated the existing pressures from an aging population living longer and with more complex health conditions. Changes to traditional practices are essential if healthcare services are to keep pace with the increased demands.
Developments in digital App technology have the ability not only to improve the health of patients, but also to save money, through rapid optimisation of treatment. They enable early interventions through monitoring, before conditions get too serious and reduce the need for routine check-up appointments and procedures. This frees up limited resources in both pathology and the clinic.
The BÜHLMANN IBDoc was the first calprotectin home test to be introduced to the market back in 2015. Since then, there have been numerous publications demonstrating the correlation of the IBDoc result from the test performed by the patient in their own home, to the results of professional laboratory analyses. More importantly there is also evidence of the correlation to the IBDoc calprotectin results to the endoscopic and histologic findings of disease status. From the clinical perspective the test undoubtedly fits the bill.
Dr Pushpakaran Munuswamy, Department Lead, Gastroenterology, Basildon University Hospital introduced the IBDoc to support their IBD patients in the summer of 2020 commented that:
“From my perspective I am seeing a difference already, because we can escalate treatment within a day or two of requesting the calprotectin test. Previously there was a wait of around 4 – 6 weeks or even longer depending on when the sample is taken and the capacity in the labs. Hopefully, in the future we will see the benefits of this rapid response in terms of reduced hospitalisations and clinic visits because patients have had timely interventions. It will also reduce calls to the helpline because we know the results and have been able to act quickly.”
But, how do the patients feel about the changes that have been introduced? Kezia Allen Pathology project specialist conducted a survey after the IBDoc had been in use for 2 years, with around 250 patients actively using the system in Basildon.
