The South African Society of Physiotherapy (SASP) recently endorsed mobiPhys, a Web and mobile-based communication system for physiotherapists and their patients. Members of SASP enjoy free usage of mobiPhys, currently used by over 800 physiotherapists in SA.
Other endorsements come via universities that use mobiPhys as both a teaching aid and practice tool. Currently both UCT and Stellenbosch universities are using mobiPhys for their students.
mobiPhys was created by Grapevine Interactive, a leading South African mobile technology company.
The system enables practitioners to create tailored rehabilitation exercise programmes online to send to patients. Some of the benefits include:
* Patients can access their rehab programme on their mobile devices instead of having to carry (and inevitably losing) pieces of paper.
* Programmes are lavishly illustrated together with detailed explanations, ensuring patients perform each exercise correctly.
* By monitoring the patient's usage of the system the practitioner gains insight as to whether the patient is actually performing the rehabilitation exercises.
* Practitioners are reminded to follow up when patients reach the end of the prescribed rehab programme.
"The patients love the pictures with the words," said physiotherapist Debbie Sendin. "And they like having it on their phone in the gym; it's user-friendly!"
Some (older, less tech-savvy) patients do prefer printed versions of their programmes - and the system allows for this too.
The next version of mobiPhys will include mobile apps for smartphones - initially Android and Apple devices will be supported. "The major benefit of the app," said Barry Baumgart, one of the system designers and a physiotherapist himself, "is that users will be able to access their programmes even if they're not connected to the Internet."
"We just love building apps like this," said Rob Mousley, Grapevine's Director of Solutions. "Using mobile to make direct and immediate improvements in peoples' lives is what we're about."
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