Innovation enhances healthcare consultations with educational illustrations.

February 21, 2024

PostScript Medical aims to improve healthcare and treatment plans by simplifying patient-doctor communications with personalised illustration.

February 21, 2024

Innovation reduces language barriers and supports the reduction of health inequities by simplifying complex medical terminology using illustrations, aligning with the NHS Long Term Plan.

Web app empowers patients to better understand and manage their treatment by up to 53%, improving adherence to treatment plans and medication.

Technology optimises clinical time by up to 72%, reducing the burden on clinical teams and preventing additional appointments when not required.

Graeme Syme is a senior specialist gastrointestinal dietitian, clinical endoscopist and co-founder of PostScript, who enrolled onto the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme in 2022.

Founded in 2020, PostScript aims to empower patients to better understand their condition and treatment plans, by personalising the communication between patients and healthcare professionals, using high quality illustrations, visual cues, sketches and annotations.

‘40-80% of medical information provided by healthcare practitioners is forgotten immediately.’ *

Data shows that up to 80% of medical information provided by healthcare practitioners is forgotten immediately after consultation, with almost half of the information remembered incorrectly. Barriers to information retention include stress, complex medical terminology/ abbreviations, the mode of information (e.g. spoken versus written) and factors specifically related to the patient. This can lead to increased consultation times, and patients not adhering to treatment plans.

As a senior specialist gastrointestinal dietitian and endoscopist based in East London, Graeme Syme supports a diverse patient population, where English isn’t always their first language. When caring for patients, he identified an inequity as personalised communication and education, based on the individuals need was lacking in clinical practice. Barriers such as language, hearing impairment, learning difficulties and an increased demand for healthcare professionals time, risked the quality of patient care and caused confusion.

To support his patients, Graeme would often use sketches or show patients images to help expand upon the discussion points, and support understanding of topics that may be complex. However, he found that the quality of the illustrations was variable, and the online images were not personalised. He then met Dr Rajan Patel, consultant gastroenterologist, who shared an interest in using pictures to inform and educate patients when working within the NHS. They explored how they could make it easier to use illustrations in clinical practice and founded PostScript Medical in 2020.

Initially, they compiled a series of gastrointestinal images with a laminated film, which could be drawn on and easily wiped off. They printed these proof-of-concept illustrative guides at a local shop and proceeded to use this method in their clinics and wards. This approach was received very positively by patients, as they were more engaged and took photos of the personalised illustrations on their phone to remember the information. Patients would also ask to see the images again during follow up appointments and, once the impact started to spread, colleagues were keen to access their own booklet of illustrations to support their patients.

“When we learn to read, it’s the pictures in the book that we are initially fascinated by. When studying and recalling anatomy we’re taught through books and diagrams, why shouldn’t it be the same for patients?”
Graeme Syme

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Graeme and Rajan’s clinics saw a reduction in face-to-face consultations and a shift to telemedicine (delivery of healthcare through technology separated by space or time, for example a video clinic), which demonstrated a need for a digital version of the annotation tool. They explored their key focuses which were to empower patients, provide personalised care and deliver a user-focused product. The team then facilitated patient focus groups and surveys, to gain insight into how patients can retain information better, and how to remove barriers during consultations. Sub-specialty leads, including consultants and clinical nurse specialists, collaborated with the co-founders to provide information on the conditions they required the most frequent support with during outpatient clinics and then a medical illustrator re-created all the pictures for clinical use. This resulted in the creation of a catalogue that provides high-definition digital illustrations for all gastroenterology sub-specialties (inflammatory bowel disease, hepatology, endoscopy and function GI disorders). With the help of a web designer and developer, the team then created a web app which functions on desktops, tablets, and smart phones.

PostScript on computer, tablet and mobile phone.

The web app allows healthcare professionals to search for the illustrations they want to use and then annotate them with a variety of pens, shapes, and text, for the individual patient need. These personalised illustrations can then be emailed to the patient or printed for them to take home. The personalised illustrations can also be added to the patient’s medical record.

The team conducted an independent survey of the web app, which included 50 specialist nurses across different hospitals in the UK, and received very positive feedback with 100% of participants communicating they would use the illustrative guide in their practice. The results were presented at the European Crohns Colitis Organisation congress. The team concluded that the assessment of the personalised illustrative guide demonstrates proof of concept and supports the need for this improved communication tool in healthcare.

This illustrative tool is great! It allows me to communicate and engage better with my patients. I definitely feel it has aided my practice and improved patient understanding of conditions and therapy decisions.”
Nishani Jayasooriya, ST7 Gastroenterologist.

Nurse Specialist explaining topical treatments for a patient with Ulcerative Colitis

As the app has developed, the team have expanded to support the Crohn’s & Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust in facilitating consultations with indigenous populations living in geographically remote locations in New Zealand.

‘83% of specialist nurses surveyed, agreed that PostScript improved communication with patients’- The PostScript Team

The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme has provided Graeme with a network of peer support which has been valuable when balancing a full time NHS career, Start-up and personal life. He has found collaboration opportunities, learnt vital innovation guidance from the educational events and has felt supported by the programme’s subject matter expert advice in Legal and IP.

“The guidance and support from the programme is amazing! There’s a lot to learn from the other Clinical Entrepreneurs who are at various stages in the development of their idea. Colleagues from previous cohorts often attend and are more than willing to share experiences and help you navigate stumbling blocks. Attending the seminars in person is a great way to help keep focused and motivated. I particularly like the open floor, relaxed environment during the Pit Stop events.”
Graeme Syme

Looking to the future

The team have completed beta testing for the use of the digital app at multiple medical centres in the UK and New Zealand. The results have been published by an independent research group communicating positive feedback around PostScript. * In addition, the application has been assessed and certified by ORCHA, the world’s leading independent digital health evaluation and distribution organisation.

PostScript lunched their ‘Individuals’ only subscription in January 2024 and the wider teams and departmental subscription will be announced later this year.

“We would love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions around PostScript. If you would like to reach out, please email via the website or message on LinkedIn.”
Graeme Syme

For more information, please click on the links below.

*References:

TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE THROUGH INNOVATION