Talk about starting the new year with a bang!
Here at Coviu, we received some amazing news at the end of December 2018: Our Cooperative Research Centre Project (CRC-P) Grant application was approved, which means the federal government will provide funding to support us and our collaborators undertaking clinical validation for the telerehabilitation project 'PhysioROM' (range-of-motion) through to July 2021.
The Project:
The project's title is "Transforming joint surgery rehabilitation with artificial intelligence in telehealth".
Rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty (replacement) is essential for patient recovery, and recent research suggests that inpatient rehabilitation following this surgery is over 30% higher in expensive private hospitals than in the public health system and international counterparts. Offering an alternate pathway of outpatient and domiciliary (in-home care) could save private health insurers 65% in expenses, translating into $140M+ in savings for Australia's health system.
Range-of-motion analysis is vital in determining postoperative recovery and return to function - for total knee replacements, patient have to show a minimum ROM increase every week to return to full flexibility. Coviu's telerehabilitation project, therefore, focuses on improving the accuracy of our artificial intelligence algorithm that performs real-time joint range of motion analysis and validating its use in a clinical environment. This will allow physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons to remotely monitor and measure a patient's recovery progress offering the same physical outcomes and patient satisfaction as inpatient rehabilitation. It can also save the average patient up to $8000 in cost associated with rehabilitation.
Whilst total knee replacement is the focus of this project, the technology will be applicable to other joints and physiotherapy interventions, offering further commercialisation opportunities. Rural and remote patients, or patients that have difficulty obtaining transport to outpatient services, will have increased access to high quality, affordable and convenient care.
Our partners for the project include:
- CSIRO's Data61 - the AI experts that will improve the accuracy and automation of the ROM algorithms.
- HFRC - a multidisciplinary allied health clinic that will provide 30 patient cases for a randomised controlled trial to analyse the accuracy, and clinician and patient satisfaction with the ROM algorithm.
- The School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health (SSSEH) at University of Western Australia - to validate the ROM results and publish the research.
- Coviu - to prepare the algorithm for commercialisation.
This Grant not only serves as funding for this important project, but it encourages us here at Coviu to continue working hard in developing diagnostic tools for video consultations and doing our part to improve Australia's healthcare system.
If you have any more questions about this project or would like to see how Coviu can benefit your practice, feel free to contact us here.
