NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE TO OFFER. PHYSIOTHERAPY USING A.I.

The NHS will open its first "AI-run physiotherapy clinic" to cut waiting times amid growing demand and staff shortages. An inevitable step that many other health providers will also have to take.

The new platform (the first to be approved by the health regulator) will provide same-day automated video appointments with a digital physiotherapist via an app that responds to information provided by a patient in real-time.

In short, a digital platform, a generative AI agent, and a video database.

What do patients think about it?

"𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒𝑦𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑁𝐻𝑆 𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑘 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑝ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑡, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝟧𝟩% 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝐼 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟."

The provider behind the platform is called @Flok.

The first NHS AI-run physiotherapy clinic is to be rolled out this year to cut waiting times amid growing demand and staff shortages.

The new platform will provide same-day automated video appointments with a digital physiotherapist via an app that responds to information provided by a patient in real-time.

It is the first platform of its kind to be approved by the health regulator, the Care Quality Commission, as a registered healthcare provider.

Patients seeking physiotherapy for issues such as back pain can be referred to the platform Flok Health through a community or primary care healthcare setting, such as their GP. They can also self-refer directly into the service.

The service aims to provide faster care and reduce waiting times and pressure on clinicians, those behind it say.

HOW IT WORKS

Get assessed

Where we’ve been contracted by the NHS in your area (or your insurer) you can self-refer straight to our service - no need to go via your GP. Your first appointment with Flok will be with our AI-powered digital doctor, who will ask you some questions to assess your back pain and ensure our digital treatment is right for you.

Get treatment

If physiotherapy is likely to be effective for you, we'll prescribe you a series of weekly appointments with our digital physio. Each appointment is like a 30-minute video call, except our side of the call is created by our AI engine in real-time, just for you. You can answer questions and your digital physio will respond to you live, in a continuously generated personal video stream.

Get better

During each of your appointments, your digital physio will prescribe a set of exercises for you to practice for the coming week before your next appointment. These exercises are specifically selected for you based on a detailed analysis of your symptoms and movement patterns. Our app guides you through practicing your exercises between appointments and helps you see your progress and stay on track.

An A.I. guided physiotherapy session will provide not only a visual interaction but also an interactive audio session.  The therapist will ask questions of the patient, such as 'where does it hurt?  Is it tender, does it hurt more if you move it. A patient can ask questions such as  "How long will it last?"

Sure! I can help you develop a chatbot for physiotherapy to facilitate communication between a patient and a therapist. Here's a basic outline of how the chatbot could be structured:

1. **Introduction and Assessment**

   - The chatbot greets the patient and introduces itself as a physiotherapy assistant.

   - It asks the patient to provide some basic information, such as their name, age, and any relevant medical history.

   - The chatbot may also ask the patient about their current symptoms, pain levels, and any specific areas of concern.

2. **Educational Resources**

   - The chatbot can provide educational resources on various physiotherapy topics, such as common injuries, rehabilitation exercises, and proper posture.

   - It can share articles, videos, or infographics to help the patient understand their condition and the therapeutic process better.

3. **Treatment Plan and Exercises**

   - Based on the information provided by the patient, the chatbot can provide a general overview of the treatment plan.

   - It can suggest specific exercises or stretches tailored to the patient's condition, along with instructions and visual aids.

   - The chatbot can also remind the patient about the importance of consistency and adherence to the treatment plan.

4. **Progress Tracking**

   - The chatbot can periodically check in with the patient to assess their progress and gather feedback.

   - It may ask questions about pain levels, functional improvements, or any difficulties encountered during exercises.

   - The chatbot can maintain a record of the patient's progress and update the therapist accordingly.

5. **Appointment Scheduling and Reminders**

   - If the patient needs to schedule or reschedule an appointment, the chatbot can provide available time slots and assist in booking.

   - It can send automated reminders about upcoming appointments, ensuring the patient doesn't miss any sessions.

6. **FAQs and Support**

   - The chatbot can have a database of frequently asked questions and provide instant answers to common queries.

   - If the patient requires additional support or has specific concerns, the chatbot can offer guidance and suggest reaching out to the therapist for further assistance.

7. **Referrals and Emergency Situations**

   - If the chatbot detects any emergency situations or symptoms that require immediate attention, it can provide instructions to contact emergency services.

   - In cases where the patient's condition falls outside the scope of the chatbot's capabilities, it can recommend seeking in-person medical advice or referring to a specialist.

It's important to note that while a chatbot can be a useful tool, it should not replace the expertise and personalized care provided by a qualified physiotherapist. The chatbot should always encourage the patient to consult with their therapist for a comprehensive evaluation and individualized treatment plan.

https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/nhs-to-offer-patients-ai-physio-6794986/