Healthcare app workshops to highlight market opportunities and stimulate innovation

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Swansea University will host two free workshop events next month, which will delve into the potentially lucrative healthcare app market and will offer software developers, clinicians, students, researchers and academics a unique opportunity to work together to create new and innovative digital solutions.

The free workshops will take place on Tuesday, February 11 and Tuesday, February 18, and are organised by the Welsh Node of the National Virtual Incubator (NVI), based at the University’s eHealth Industries Innovation Centre (ehi²), and the Swansea University-led Software Alliance Wales project.

‘An Introduction to Healthcare Apps’ on Tuesday, February 11, will offer delegates a useful insight into the market.  Keynote speakers including Bruce Hellman from award-winning health app developers UMotif and Huw Morgan from Welsh based company GPCSL will discuss the opportunities and challenges in developing healthcare apps, share practical advice and guidance on app development and explore ways in which to gain access to the NHS market.

Professor David Ford, Director of the e Health Industries Innovation Centre (ehi²) at Swansea University, said: “Globally healthcare apps represent an exciting emerging market. Whether you are a medical professional, or tech developer, there is huge scope for growth and opportunity. 

“These events are a great way to bring together healthcare professionals, developers and academics to collaborate and potentially create some very innovative apps that could help improve healthcare and healthcare delivery.”

On Tuesday, February 18, developers and clinicians will have an opportunity to explore, innovate create and prototype their own healthcare app solutions at a full day hands-on workshop.

The facilitator of the healthcare apps workshop, Professor Chris Price of Aberystwyth University and Software Alliance Wales (SAW), said: “Software Alliance Wales has already trained hundreds of Welsh software professionals in the best ways of building mobile applications.

“Healthcare is one of the most successful areas for providing mobile assistance, both to professionals and patients and the demand for skilled software developers in this sector continues to grow.” 

Mobile apps for smart-phones and tablets are changing the way healthcare professionals and patients approach healthcare. 

Many apps are designed for doctors and other healthcare professionals, and range from databases about drugs and diseases, to monitors that read a person's blood pressure, or glucose levels.  

Others apps gather data giving patients an easy way to keep track of their conditions and treatments – diabetics can monitor their blood sugar levels via their smartphones; plus there are apps to track diet, pregnancy and pain management. 

Huw Morgan, Technical Director of GPC Solutions and a guest speaker at the Introduction to Healthcare App event, said: “This event will be an opportunity for us to share our experiences – and knowledge of providing innovative apps in this area – with developers, innovators and healthcare professionals.”

If you are interested in attending, please email NVIWales@swansea.ac.uk or contact Sarah Toomey, NVI Wales Manager on 01792 295627.