App to help patients self-manage after surgery

The Holland Orthopaedic & Arthritic Centre has partnered with SeamlessMD to introduce a mobile app that patients can use to self-manage their recovery at home after hip or knee replacement surgery.

Patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery at the Holland Centre can now download myHip&Knee, a free app to help them get ready for surgery and stay on track during recovery. So far, more than 120 patients have downloaded the app.

The app gives users timely reminders leading up to surgery, a daily check in to track their progress after surgery (e.g. symptoms, pain levels, joint range of motion), a library of information including exercise videos and feedback on how to recovery safely at home. The Holland Centre will use the data to derive insights on how patients recover to help the healthcare team continuously improve the patient experience.

“After conducting focus groups, we learned that many of our patients had access to smartphones and tablets, and wanted to be engaged through mobile applications,” said Deborah Kennedy, Manager of Hip & Knee Program Development at the Holland Centre. “This led our team to pursue this additional partner in care – a mobile app for smartphone and tablet users.”

“We are excited to work with SeamlessMD to expand our strategy for patient- and family-centered care and improve the patient experience and health outcomes,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gollish, orthopaedic surgeon and Medical Director of the Holland Centre. “The aim is that myHip&Knee will improve patient recovery by encouraging patients to complete exercises, checking in on pain levels and mobility, and advising patients when to seek more help.”

For more info visit www.sunnybrook.ca/myhip&knee