Maidenhead, 3 Nov 2022 – Abbott’s NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic, The UK’s first remote neuromodulation patient-care technology, is now available in six specialist centres across the UK; Bristol, Glasgow, Kent and Canterbury, Leeds, Oxford and Southampton. Its introduction means that many more patients living with chronic pain or movement disorders in the UK can remotely communicate with their healthcare team, as well as receive new treatment settings and functionality updates for their treatment device.
Abbott’s NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic has the potential to benefit many people suffering from chronic pain or movement disorders in the UK, a large proportion of whom do not live close to a specialist hospital. In general, people requiring specialist treatment in parts of the UK will travel on average around 37 miles[iv] to their nearest centre, and for people with movement disorders that rises to an average of 150 miles[v] meaning that they may have difficulty accessing care, or are unable to go to the hospital due to circumstances such as COVID-19. Without alternative solutions, such as digital and/or telehealth options, these patients are more likely to delay or forego much-needed care.[vi]
People living with chronic pain or movement disorders can experience changes to their condition over time and will often need to visit their healthcare professional frequently to effectively manage it. For some people, this process can exacerbate the pain or the condition they are living with in the short term. NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic gives patients with an Abbott device the flexibility and comfort of receiving care anywhere* by connecting with their doctor or specialist nurse via secure in-app video chat and an integrated remote programming feature, now available within the Abbott patient controller app.
Healthcare professionals are able to provide new treatment settings to the patient's neurostimulation device remotely using the NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic clinician programmer app and a new, simple and secure remote care connection. This gives patients confidence in their care and the convenience to manage their therapy in a way that fits in with their lifestyle.
Ed Newman, a Consultant Neurologist at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow says, “Many of our DBS patients have to travel long distances to reach our clinic. Giving our patients the autonomy to have their stimulation settings adjusted in their own home is hugely gratifying. We can examine patients virtually and adjust their settings using the NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic platform whilst they remain at home.
“The feedback from patients for remote programming has been really positive. Most of all, the patients appreciate the convenience of not having to travel to hospital for appointments.”
Professor Alex Green, Consultant Neurosurgeon at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford said, “As the first centre in the UK to launch NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic, we have been successfully using this remote technology for many months to support our patients with the management of their chronic pain.
“Travel to appointments can cause exacerbated pain and burden, but this tool enables our patients access to routine care without having to sacrifice time away from work or family commitments, or the resources to travel to attend appointments at a time when the cost of living is a concern for many people in the UK.”
Pedro Malha, Vice President for Abbott’s Neuromodulation division says, “With NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic now available in centers throughout the UK, more people with chronic pain or movement disorders have the potential to receive care effectively and more efficiently whenever they need, and from anywhere they choose, thus helping to improve patient access throughout the UK healthcare system.”
The NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic is compatible with Abbott's suite of neuromodulation technologies for patients with Parkinson’s disease, disabling tremor or chronic intractable dystonia; including Infinity™ DBS System; and for patients living with chronic pain; including Proclaim™ XR SCS System for of the trunk and/or limbs; and Proclaim™ DRG Neurostimulation System for patients with chronic intractable pain.
This integration across all Abbott neuromodulation technologies highlights Abbott’s relentless pursuit of patient-centered research and development methodologies that use neuroscience combined with cutting-edge technology to go beyond physical symptom relief to improve the lives of people with neurological disorders.
*Anywhere with a mobile data or Wi-Fi connection and sufficiently charged patient controller.
About Neuromodulation
Neuromodulation is an essential treatment that works by delivering electrical treatment directly to a targeted area to alter nerve activity. Neuromodulation is often recommended for patients who suffer from chronic pain and certain movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and essential tremors. Currently, nearly 28 million adults are affected by chronic pain in the UK1 while around 145,000 people live with Parkinson’s disease2 and an estimated 1 million people live with an essential tremor3.
About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 113,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
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References
[i] Fayaz A et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in the UK: a systematic review and meta-analysis of populations studies.BMJ Open 2016;6:e010364. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/6/e010364. Accessed October 1 2021
[ii] Parkinson’s UK. What is Parkinson’s? https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/what-parkinsons. Accessed Oct 12 2021
[iii] Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Pioneering treatment for essential tremor at Trust receives boost from NICE recommendation and new funding appeal. https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/news/pioneering-treatment-for-essential-tremor-receives-boost Accessed October 1 2021
[iv] Jordan, H., Roderick, P., Martin, D. et al. Distance, rurality and the need for care: access to health services in South West England. Int J Health Geogr 3, 21 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-072X-3-21. Accessed Oct 12 2021
[v] Abbott data on file
[vi] Deloitte. Narrowing the rural-urban health divide. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/public-sector/virtual-health-telemedicine-rural-areas.html. Accessed Nov. 8, 2020.
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