Novel digital health solution for the immediate triage of potential Covid-19 cases in nurseries and schools

This application is presented by a group of GPs who are developing new safe ways to provide patients with access to a doctor regardless of the patients and doctors location. The business is called Tekihealth and it relies on a digitally enabled "Teki-Hub" that comprises a number digitally connected devices (video/stills camera, non-contact thermometer, stethoscope etc...).

The aim is to enable persons with the patient, i.e. care staff or loved ones, to examine the patient while the doctor is on the other end of the internet link. The solution has been designed to be very easy to use so that staff with or without medical training can be the "eye and hands" for the doctor.

Tekihealth are focused on developing the Teki-Hub so that it can be used by organisations such as care homes, schools and nurseries. The model is to provide such organisations with the way of calling in or accessing a doctor at very short notice and without the need to move the patient. Removing the need to move patients has become highly important because of the current pandemic as it minimises the risk of the spread of virus.

Tekihealth is currently testing the Teki-Hub in a number of care homes to determine how easy it is to establish this new model of care. The team has been approached by a number of nurseries that are interested in using Tekihealth to manage infants and children with suspected Covid-19 infection while they are still at the nursery. Tekihealth are seeking Innovate UK funding to conduct a rapid research and development project to ensure the Teki-Hub is suitable for use with children and their respective care workers.

This project is specifically related to the The Sustainable Innovation Fund competition because it is specifically related with developing a new safer model for healthcare delivery while respecting social isolation and the need to minimise infection risk in a more sustainable way.