Posts by: Caroline McGarry

Spotlighting a HIHI pilot with My OT & Me with the potential to reduce paediatric OT waiting lists

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Health Innovation Hub Ireland were delighted to work with My OT & Me an Irish start-up founded by Jessica Kennedy, Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist and Seán Ó Tuama. My OT & Me is an online paediatric occupational therapy (OT) resource to support children and families who are in need of OT support. It aims
to support and empower as many families as possible in an innovative, accessible and interactive way. The focus is on positive child development, encouraging independence and creating confident children. Paediatric Occupational Therapy helps children and young people with different needs and abilities to become as independent as possible by developing the skills they need to perform the purposeful activities that make up everyday life.

HSE Primary Care Occupational Therapy Services are experiencing increased numbers of referrals. This can be challenging particularly in times of limited resources, long waiting lists and redeployment of existing staff to COVID-19 testing duties. There is also a significant demand for private paediatric OT services in Ireland amongst parents, caregivers, educators, professionals and students.

Jane O’ Flynn acting Operations Manager HIHI welcomed the pilot “It is really important that children receive early intervention for their occupational therapy needs. The HIHI pilot of the My OT & Me programme with HSE community paediatric OTs in Cork and their clients demonstrated how children and their families benefited from completing this combined eHealth and activity programme at home. There is great potential for this innovative programme to help over 18,000 children waiting from HSE paediatric OT assessments in Ireland.”

My OT & Me’s platform is a unique telehealth-based product providing online paediatric occupational therapy resources to support children and families who are in need of OT support. It provides information through structured high quality educational videos for parents covering a range of OT topics. Children are provided with My OT & Me’s product, Octobox to support them with skill acquisition in a fun and interactive way.

Health Innovation Hub Ireland supported the My OT & Me Innovation Journey via a pilot with North Lee Primary Care Occupational Therapy Department, HSE with twenty-six children and their families in Cork who were awaiting intervention services. The children and their parents or guardians undertook a dedicated 12 week My OT & Me programme which concluded in February 2022.

A significant outcome of the pilot was that

  • half of all children did not need further HSE OT support at the end of the programme. As this programme is carried out by parents and children at home.
  • it can free up OTs to see other children and thus help reduce waiting times.
  • The families who piloted the My OT & Me programme at home responded positively. The programme gave 100% of families more confidence and provided them with practical strategies to support their child and they found the format of the programme manageable.
  • 85% reported that the programme gave them additional knowledge and understanding.
  • 71% said their child enjoyed the programme, they saw an improvement in their child’s skills and the programme helped the child meet the goals set for them.

The feedback from the OTs was also positive. 100% of OTs would recommend it to other Paediatric OTs, 80% would like to continue to have access to the programme for their clients and 60% considered that the piloted programme would help reduce waiting times.

Speaking on conclusion of the successful HIHI pilot Jess Kennedy Co-founder, My OT & Me said “ Having access to clinical teams through a dedicated programme like this has fast-tracked our commercial implementation.”

Read the case study and a selection of our other work here Case Studies – Health Innovation Hub Ireland (hih.ie)

HIHI announces the appointment of new team member Dr. Jonathan Moran

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Health Innovation Hub Ireland are delighted to announce that Dr. Jonathan Moran PhD, BSc, PGDip Primary Care (Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal), PG Cert Statistics joins us as a HSE Clinical Liaison, with the Dublin team at our office based at St. James’s Hospital Dublin. Dr. Moran has spent the last number of years working at the hospital’s physiotherapy department and he brings a wealth of experience and a broad network to the HIHI national team.

Jonathan completed a BSc. in Physiotherapy and graduated from Trinity College Dublin in June 2013. While, undertaking his undergraduate degree, Jonathan developed a keen interest in cancer and exercise, particularly its role in the preoperative setting.

Immediately post his undergraduate degree, Jonathan began a PhD in Physiotherapy entitled ‘Evaluating and optimising preoperative physical fitness to enhance postoperative recovery in major surgery’. Jonathan examined the role of preoperative physical fitness in improving postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. In addition, Jonathan investigated interventions to enhance preoperative physical fitness and examined if this translated to an improvement in postoperative outcome. Jonathan completed his PhD in August 2017.

Following the completion of his PhD, Jonathan began working as a postdoctoral researcher with Dr. Julie Broderick. During this position, Jonathan helped develop physical activity guidelines to support mental health service users published by the Health Service Executive https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthwellbeing/our-priority-programmes/heal/heal-docs/lets-get-active-guidelines.pdf).

For his research Jonathan has obtained over €30,000 in funding from the Royal City of Dublin Hospital Trust and €2,500 from the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists for The PHIIT Trial (Clinictrials.gov: NCT02674815). In addition, Jonathan has a number of peer-reviewed publications in high-ranking publications such as the British Journal of Anaesthesia and Surgery.

In 2018, Jonathan began working as a Physiotherapist in St. James’s Hospital, Ireland’s largest hospital, quickly becoming a senior in inpatient orthopaedics. While in this role Jonathan also served as the Co-Editor in Chief of the peer-reviewed journal, Physiotherapy Practice & Research, and also serves on the Tallaght/St. James’s Research Ethics Committee.

St. James’s Hospital Dublin ICU Team develops new innovative medical device to tackle Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP)

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ICU Team develop new healthcare solution that will change the lives of mechanically ventilated patients

Pictured left to right Consultant intensivist and Professor of Medicine in TCD Prof Ignacio Martin-Loeches and Emily Naylor Clinical Nurse Facilitator, St. James’s Hospital

5th April, 2023. Enterprise Ireland through Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) and in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin (TCD), is supporting a team from St. James’s Hospital Dublin, to assess the commercial feasibility of a novel medical device for tackling Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP). The team, consisting of two intensive care unit nurses (Emily Naylor and Beatriz Tejada Rios) and a consultant intensivist and Professor of Medicine in TCD (Prof Ignacio Martin-Loeches) who deal with the problem of VAP on a daily basis, have developed a novel and innovative solution to tackle this serious medical condition. The feasibility study will assess and map out the route to market for their product, with the ultimate aim of getting the product into the hands of clinical teams treating ventilated patients.

VAP is a serious healthcare problem that affects many ventilated patients with a high mortality rate and is associated with significant health and economic costs. The incidence rate of VAP is a common complication among mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units, with some studies reporting an incidence rate ranging from 5% to 30%. The total costs of VAP can include direct costs such as hospitalization, laboratory tests, and antibiotics and indirect costs such as lost productivity, decreased quality of life, and mortality. The cost of VAP has been reported to be substantial, with some estimates indicating that it can range from €40,000 to €50,000 per episode.

Emily and Beatriz identified VAP as a healthcare problem that could be minimised through innovative technology, along with Prof. Martin-Loeches, the team, worked with HIHI, a medical device designer to develop the concept. This was reviewed by TCD’s Technology Transfer Office for patentability, allowing for a patent to be filed on the design. The team will work with Associate Prof. Eduardo Ruiz-Hernandez, TCD, to develop a prototype.

With the patent on the way and a solid solution direction identified, Enterprise Ireland has supported these clinical innovators via their Commercial Case Feasibility grant, recognizing the potential of their solution to address this life-threatening condition in a meaningful way.

This project is a great example of the Irish clinical, academic, and government systems working together to support frontline healthcare innovators and improve patient outcomes.

Dr Steven Griffin, Clinical Innovation Manager, Health Innovation Hub Ireland welcomed this new solution to VAP.

“At Health Innovation Hub Ireland, we are committed to fostering innovation in healthcare and supporting the development of early-stage ideas into viable products. Emily Naylor previously worked with HIHI before returning to clinical practice in ICU Department of St James’- I like to think our innovation process rubbed off on her, but the reality is that frontline staff understand the problems better than anyone and between them the team at St James’ were driven to develop a solution to VAP. The collaboration with St. James’s Hospital Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and Enterprise Ireland on the development of a novel solution to tackle Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP) is a prime example of how Health Innovation Hub Ireland can support innovative thinking and bring positive change to the healthcare system. We are excited to see the potential impact this project can have on patient outcomes and the healthcare industry as a whole.”

Emily Naylor, Clinical Nurse Facilitator, St. James’s Hospital commented that: “The support from Enterprise Ireland is crucial in our efforts to tackle Ventilator-associated Pneumonia, a serious medical condition affecting many patients. Our team, in collaboration with the Health Innovation Hub Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, have developed a novel solution to address this issue and bring positive change to patient outcomes. With Enterprise Ireland’s funding and resources, we are confident in our ability to bring our innovative product to market and make a meaningful impact for patients, carers and the healthcare system”.

 

About HIHI

Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) drives collaboration between the health service and enterprise. We offer companies the opportunity to pilot and/or participate in clinical evaluation studies to prove their products. We provide the health service access to innovative products, services and devices that they may not otherwise be exposed to. HIHI is built on the recognition that collaboration with enterprise can benefit patient care, patient pathways and outcomes. We assess all concepts for healthcare innovation from those on the frontline. We encourage healthcare professionals to get in touch with HIHI if they have an idea or solution to how something in your job might work better. HIHI was established by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Health and is supported by Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

About TCD – Technology Transfer Team at Trinity Innovation

The Technology Transfer Team at Trinity Innovation supports and enables the research community to translate innovative research excellence into outputs for maximum societal and economic impact. Commercialisation, intellectual property protection and knowledge transfer is an integral component of the technology transfer journey and is supported by Trinity Innovation. The team at Trinity are actively nurturing alliances with Hospital-based innovation initiatives – this project is a great example of a group of clinical professionals with an idea for a health innovation, connecting with Trinity Innovation resources to move the project forward in partnership

 About EI

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. They provide supports for early-stage innovations by funding, mentoring, and advising companies through their various programs. They offer a wide range of financial supports such as seed capital, venture capital, and equity funding for startups, as well as funding for product development and commercialization. Enterprise Ireland also provides access to a network of industry experts, mentors, and partners to help companies develop their products and enter international markets. They also provide resources and training to help entrepreneurs develop the necessary skills and knowledge to grow their businesses. Their goal is to help Irish companies to start, scale and succeed in global markets.

 

 

Health Innovation Hub Ireland, headquartered in UCC, is supporting local companies to develop their HealthTech products.

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Health Innovation Hub Ireland, a national initiative supported by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, the Department of Health, Enterprise Ireland and the HSE is led-by and headquartered in UCC with a partner hub in MTU . The goal of HIHI is to support Ireland’s health technology industry by connecting innovators with healthcare and driving the development of products through HIHI’s unique innovation pathway. HIHI supports innovations at idea stage, pre-commercial prototype stage and market ready products. HIHI supports companies based anywhere in Ireland but we are particularly proud of the work we’ve done to support local Cork-based industry. Here is snapshot of some recent successes:

 

Health Innovation Hub Ireland supports Cork-based Gasgon Medical with clinical feedback of AirVault – a novel device to limit the impact of air bubbles in infusion therapy lines.

Cork- based Gasgon Medical has developed a novel closed-system air trap, the AirVault. As a single-use device, AirVault is designed to provide a safe, easy and effective technology to prevent the impact of Air-in-Line, a common disruptor of infusion therapy, which will result in improved safety for patients and healthcare staff. Gasgon Medical approached Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) to get feedback on its AirVault medical device from clinical experts to ensure it will meet the needs of healthcare professionals and their patients.

Through its clinical network, HIHI identified suitable clinicians to attend five focus groups in three different hospitals in Cork and Dublin. HIHI facilitated the focus groups, advised on the key questions which were addressed by over 35 experts in nurse practice development, nursing management, infection control, oncology, pharmacy, quality risk management and biomedical engineering.

The company received valuable feedback and suggestions, which assisted them in the final design of the AirVault. The clinical feedback also highlighted other use-cases for this technology which HIHI is currently helping the company to explore. Now with a design freeze, Gasgon is beginning a multi-centre study designed to capture clinical evidence and contribute towards CE mark and FDA accreditation

Read the full case study here: https://hih.ie/downloads/case-studies/HIHI-case-study_Gasgon_Medical.pdf

 

HIHI supports Cork sisters to pilot innovative sustainable PPE in healthcare

Cork sisters,  Dr Mary O’ Riordan and Lisa O’Riordan, have developed the HaPPE Apron- a more sustainable alternative to traditional personal protective equipment (PPE) in a bid to help cut carbon emissions from healthcare.

The “green” PPE apron is made from a proprietary resin that is composed of compostable bioplastics. It matches the safety parameters of current, medical Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) single-use aprons, is CE approved and suitable for use in healthcare. Overall, the apron has a carbon footprint 75 per cent lower than a standard PPE apron, with no waste in the manufacturing process and using sustainable energy sources for production.

Health Innovation Hub Ireland working with the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) in Cork piloted the HaPPE Apron with 7,000 aprons tested for wearability, acceptability, sustainability and durability, across the elective orthopaedic ward, the orthopaedic rehab ward and across the hospital catering and kitchen services.

“To see our compostable apron being used by frontline staff in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and to get such support from the HIHI team was invaluable to us. It is through collaboration like this that we bring practical solutions to our health system,” the co-founders said.

“Worldwide, the healthcare sector is responsible for as much as 4.6 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. If Ireland is to make an impact, we need to look at innovative products that reduce carbon emissions while maintaining safety, UCC has a strong sustainability agenda and we are delighted to support sustainable healthcare products” said Dr Tanya Mulcahy, Director of Health Innovation Hub Ireland.

UCC based Start-up Teleatherapy begins Health Innovation Hub Ireland pilot with the HSE

Founded in 2020 by Clare Meskill, Teleatherapy has developed a platform to better connect speech and language therapists with patients that have Parkinson’s disease.

The platform enables speech therapists to prescribe exercises for clients, which can then be completed at home through an app on their phone or tablet. This product is designed to save time for speech therapists and reduce waitlists for patients.

Through Health Innovation Hub Ireland, Teletherapy are piloting their platform within the HSE. The company will gather feedback from patients, carers and speech therapists as part of the pilot.

“Clare Meskill is a UCC graduate (College of Medicine and Health) and a UCC Ignite alumna, Teleatherapy has offices in UCC Gateway and it’s great that Health Innovation Hub Ireland is in a position to support the company development. Teleatherapy is improving the quality of life for Parkinson’s patients and we are delighted to be able to help”  Dr Tanya Mulcahy, Director Health Innovation Hub Ireland.

 

Cork’s Orthopaedic Medical Device Company OrthoXel supported by HIHI to address MDR compliance

Cork-based OrthoXel approached HIHI to assist it in carrying out the human factor usability testing of the completion of its Implant Card in compliance with the MDR. HIHI first identified that orthopaedic theatre nurses are the healthcare professionals responsible for completing the Implant Card in this case. Through its clinical network and the HSE clinical staff assigned to HIHI, HIHI identified orthopaedic theatre nurses and facilitated two rounds of ergonomic usability testing. HIHI provided clinical liaison and project management expertise throughout the project to ensure that this testing was carried out in line with OrthoXel’s tight timeline.

OrthoXel is a specialist orthopaedic trauma company, which uses innovative engineering design to evolve the next generation fracture fixation devices. Its innovative orthopaedic trauma devices are inspired by surgeons and are focussed on delivering superior patient outcomes. OrthoXel’s products include the Apex Tibial Nailing System and the Apex Femoral Nailing System, both of which are CE marked and FDA cleared.

https://hih.ie/downloads/case-studies/HIHI-case-study_OrthoXel.pdf

Irish company Ostoform provides solutions for patients post-surgery with their medical device® Mouldable Seal with FLOWASSIST®which is now available for public and private patients in Ireland

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Health Innovation Hub Ireland worked with Ostoform on a product pilot which will change the lives of Irish patients post -surgery.

HIHI along with Kevin Kelleher, CEO of Ostoform, worked on a healthcare challenge. People who have had a surgically created stoma, particularly an ileostomy, are at risk of developing peristomal skin complications, with incidence rates of up to 63% reported in literature. Currently, treatments of peristomal skin complications are limited. Pastes are available, but they can often impede ostomy bags from sticking to the skin. Furthermore, the bags themselves can contribute to peristomal skin complications, by allowing waste to contact the peristomal skin, causing chemical irritation and standard seals are often broken down by stoma output, which then contacts your skin resulting in irritation and discomfort.

The Healthcare Solution is the Ostoform Class I medical device aims to prevent the development of peristomal skin complications. With all ileostomies, there is a risk of stoma output contacting the peristomal skin and causing irritation. Ostoform was designed to minimise this risk. The Ostoform Seal is a device designed to prevent the development of peristomal skin complications and ensures that stoma output flows away from the skin, keeping it safe, healthy and comfortable.

HIHI played a pivotal role in the development of this product pilot and designed and project managed two separate multisite clinical studies to assess the impact and efficacy of their FLOWASSIST novel ostomy device. The initial study included Tallaght University Hospital St James’s Hospital and University Hospital Galway, engaging two CRFs in Dublin and Galway.

The second study was conducted at Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital Cork and University Hospital Galway. Patients with an ileostomy were screened from the stoma nurse’s outpatients list, those who met the inclusion criteria were invited to participate. There was no control group in this study as currently there is no accepted ‘standard care’ device for the management of peristomal skin complications so patients use a range of different devices. Ethics approval was obtained for both studies.

The outcome of the product pilot obtained its objectives. The purpose of this practical application study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ostoform® Mouldable Seal with FLOWASSIST® Protection in protecting the skin of people with an ileostomy, as well as to gather user feedback on the perception of the device. 60% of the participants remained at a very low DET score throughout the study, and 35% of participants demonstrated an improvement in DET score provides an indication that the novel barrier ring can be effective in protecting the skin. User feedback was positive with respect to comfort, device handling and the perception of the device’s ability to protect the skin. Furthermore, the majority of participants who already used a barrier ring, indicated that the FLOWASSIST device would result in a longer wear time.

In 2021, the clinical study with Ostoform and HIHI concluded and results were accepted for publication. An application for inclusion of this product on HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme for public patients was submitted to the HSE and approved in September 2022. As a result, the Ostoform FLOWASSIST product is now available to Irish patients.

Kevin Kelleher Ostoform’s CEO spoke about the product pilot and HIHI’s involvement. “HIHI supported Ostoform by preparing and conducting two separate clinical studies, both of which demonstrated very encouraing results. Our FLOWASSIST technology demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in peristomal skin complications, along with additional user benefits. As a result, the product has been awarded premium reimbursement by the HSE. The HIHI played a central role in getting the Ostoform Seal to market in Ireland, and this will result in improved quality of life for ostomy patients across the country”.

Ms Noreen Lynch, Health Innovation Hub Ireland Clinical Liaison said: “As a nurse, I am always looking for new products that make it easier for patients to manage their recovery after surgery. We were delighted to support Ostoform to evaluate their FlowAssist seal with ileostomy patients and to see the real impact these products have on patients. The product is now available in Ireland to public and private patients and is already on the international market”.

Read the full case study here – https://hih.ie/downloads/case-studies/HIHI-case-study_Ostoform-Mar-2023.pdf

 

Health Innovation Hub Ireland launches another successful FemTech case study with Nua Surgical

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Nua Surgical founders Padraig and Marie Therese Maher and Barry McCann
NUA Surgical is a Galway based, start-up company dedicated to innovating in women’s health. The company, which is a spin-out from the University of Galway and BioInnovate Ireland, was founded in 2019 by Barry McCann (CEO), Marie-Therese Maher (COO) and Padraig Maher (CTO). They have developed the patented SteriCISIONTM C-section retractor, which aims to improve access and visualisation during caesarean surgery and provide multiple benefits to clinicians, patients and healthcare systems.
The Enterprise Ireland backed high potential start-up has been recognised nationally and internationally with multiple awards for its innovative approach to improving maternal health outcomes. These include overall winner of IntertradeIreland Seedcorn Competition (2020), EIT Health Headstart winner (2020), Parkview Health Global Maternal Health Innovation winner (2021), and overall winner at the National Start-Up Awards (2022).
NUA Surgical’s SteriCISIONTM retractor has been designed alongside obstetricians to answer their unmet needs when performing a caesarean delivery. It will provide superior access to the uterus, enabling hands free management of the surgical incision space and therefore reducing the opportunity for bacteria transfer into the wound. The self-retaining retractor will be provided as a sterile, single use disposable device which is also important to reduce the risk of infection.
Its ergonomic design enables easy, safe and fast retraction, mimicking the natural hand movements of the obstetrician and the soft-touch adjustable paddles cater for their visualization needs on each patient’s anatomy. Ultimately, SteriCISIONTM will provide suitable access and visualization for clinicians to safely deliver the baby, identify any bleeds and repair the uterus in a time-sensitive surgery.
Speaking on completion of the case study Barry McCann CEO of Nua Surgical spoke about working with HIHI.
“The insights are invaluable! We are grateful for the support of the HIHI team and are excited to be involved with their FemTech programme moving forward.”

Health Innovation Hub Ireland announces another successful case study with Gasgon Medical

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Gasgon Medical has developed a novel closed-system air trap, the AirVault. As a single-use device, AirVault is designed to provide a safe, easy and effective technology to prevent the impact of Air-in-Line, a common disruptor of infusion therapy, which will result in improved safety for patients and healthcare staff. Gasgon has just frozen its design so that it can focus on a multi-centre study designed to capture clinical evidence and contribute towards CE mark and FDA accreditation. Gasgon Medical approached HIHI to get feedback on its AirVault medical device from clinical experts to ensure it will meet the needs of healthcare professionals and their patients.

Through its clinical network, HIHI identified suitable clinicians to attend five focus groups in three different hospitals in Cork and Dublin. HIHI facilitated the focus groups, advised on the key questions which were addressed by over 35 experts in nurse practice development, nursing management, infection control,
oncology, pharmacy, quality risk management and biomedical engineering.

The company received valuable feedback and suggestions, which assisted them in the final design of the AirVault. The clinical feedback also highlighted other use-cases for this technology which HIHI is currently helping the company to explore.

Read the full case study here: https://hih.ie/downloads/case-studies/HIHI-case-study_Gasgon_Medical.pdf

Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) announces the launch of a pilot study in collaboration with Whyze Health Ltd at Blackrock Health Galway Clinic

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Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) announces the launch of a pilot study in collaboration with Whyze Health Ltd at Blackrock Health Galway Clinic

A new platform aims to deliver more informed prostate cancer treatment plans

As part of Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) Pilot Call 2022, HIHI is delighted to collaborate with WHYZE Health Ltd. and Blackrock Health Galway Clinic in a pilot study of WHYZE Health’s platform.

What is the platform and what does it hope to achieve? Through the WHYZE Health Platform, patient-reported outcomes and health data can aid the delivery of informed prostate cancer treatment plans, providing physicians with the necessary information to select the best treatment options for their patients. By analyzing these data systematically and in real-time, the portal allows for real-world outcome feedback to be provided to patients and their care teams for the first time. This, in turn, streamlines the care provided by physicians, reduces diagnostic timelines, and improves patient outcomes. The study aims to demonstrate the real-world evidence (RWE) power of patient-reported outcomes to improve health outcomes and quality of care.

Dr Tanya Mulcahy, Director of Health Innovation Hub Ireland welcomed the launch of the pilot. “HIHI is thrilled to work with WHYZE Health and Blackrock Health Galway Clinic to showcase the efficacy and value of the WHYZE Health Platform in a live environment. By giving patients more control over their care and streamlining treatment options for physicians, the WHYZE Health Platform has the potential to improve health outcomes and advance the transition to patient-centred healthcare”.

The platform tracks the patient’s progress and collects relevant RWE throughout the entire health cycle of the patient’s treatment plan, including follow-ups. This easy-to-use tool empowers patients to take control of their care, considering individual risk factors and desired outcomes for each patient. The benefits are that providers can share healthcare data with patients and allow online scheduling of upcoming appointments. Additionally, the platform drives a patient-centred transition to healthcare by bringing health and research opportunities directly to healthcare providers and patients, advancing global awareness of clinical trials, and enabling better health outcomes. Integration of digital technologies into hospital services is key to the connection and communication with patients and will be the future of healthcare.

Dr Steven Griffin, Manager, Health Innovation Hub Ireland, University of Galway explained the value of HIHI pilots to the healthcare system and to patients in Ireland. “These pilots highlight the benefits of novel solutions to patients, healthcare staff, and the healthcare system. In turn, successful pilots demonstrating value should be must-haves for modern patient-centred healthcare systems.”

 

Photo caption – From left to right: Prof. Frank Sullivan, CMO WHYZE Health and Director Radiation Oncology, Prostate Cancer Institute (NUIG) Blackrock Health, Galway Clinic; Phil Blackwell, Chief Technology Officer, WHYZE Health; Dr. Tanya Mulcahy, Director, Health Innovation Hub Ireland; Frances Abeton CEO, WHYZE Health; Evelyn Smyth, Interim CEO, Galway Clinic; Abby Langtry, Chief Patient Officer, WHYZE Health; Alyson Banks, Patient Safety Executive, Galway Clinic (Photo: Business Wire)

 

Dr Tanya Mulcahy talks to 96FM news about the HaPPE apron

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Listen back to Dr. Tanya Mulcahy’s interview with Mairead Twohig on 96FM News.

https://www.96fm.ie/news/96fm-news-and-sport/cork-entrepreneurs-create-sustainable-product/

A compostable PPE apron has been developed by two Cork entrepreneurs to tackle the single use plastic increase due to PPE usage during Covid.

According to the WHO, during the pandemic, plastic production more than doubled.

Dr Mary O’Riordan and Lisa O’Riordan created the HaPPE Apron which is CE approved and has been piloted at the South Infirmary in Cork.

The product was a winner of the Health Innovation Hub Ireland Open Call 2022.

Speaking to Cork’s 96FM & C103 News, Director of the Hub, Dr Tanya Mulcahy says pilots in other hospitals are planned.

Dr Mary O’Riordan says the product takes five weeks to degrade while the standard LDPE apron takes about 50 years.

Our news reporter Mairead Twohig has more