This year we are thrilled to have launched our new Patient Entrepreneur Programme.
In this series we speak to our new patient entrepreneurs and find out why they decided to innovate. This week we are pleased to welcome Will Jackson, Founder and CEO of Playphysio®.
Tell us a bit about yourself
My daughter was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) when she was 18 months old. CF causes sticky mucus to accumulate in the lungs and digestive system, leading to respiratory infections and irreparable lung damage. By the age of 9, she was prescribed over 40 tablets and 180 therapy blows (OPEP Therapy) for daily management of her CF. As a family, the burden of care caused regular arguments and stress whilst trying to keep up with multiple treatment routines.
As a parent, expressing the frustration of coaxing a 9-year-old to perform each physiotherapy session is very challenging. These sessions had become the most dreaded part of our day, and one morning, after a prolonged argument with my daughter over the physio, I decided it was time to find a solution.
Name: Will Jackson
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Playphysio
I observed that there was an unmet need within the CF population with thousands of families facing similar challenges each day. I calculated this to be around 1 million hours of stress per year, even for this fairly rare disease. With an understanding of the need, and drawing upon my professional expertise in innovation, product, and digital design, I aimed to transform the negative experience of treatment into a positive one. My ultimate goal being the best possible health outcome for my daughter, and other children.
I began developing functional prototypes and my daughter was my ‘chief test pilot’. It was very surprising to see how quickly gamification transformed her experience of physiotherapy. I gave a demo to our local CF team, and the CF Trust and they refused to let me leave the room until I agreed to make this available to thousands of families in similar situations. Hence Playphysio was born!
Tell us about your innovation
Playphysio is a system composed of:
- The ‘physioPal’ which is our electronic monitor,
- The Playphysio mobile app with built in games. (We also have additional games which are compatible with the Playphysio system.)
- Our online Dashboard app.
Together they monitor, gamify and report respiratory physiotherapy treatment.
Playphysio transforms existing therapy devices into ‘blow activated’ game controllers. Upon starting treatment patients, or rather players, get real time visual and audio feedback, encouragement and incentivisation. Above all it’s quick and simple to use for 8 to 80 year olds!
Gamification makes treatment sessions fun and encourages patients to perform therapy with better technique and complete it in less time, making family life far less stressful. We’ve integrated games, from external studios, introduced leaderboards to add a touch of friendly competition, and award real-time bonus points for excellent performance. Due to its popularity among young patients, we’ve even had to set limits on gameplay once treatment is complete.
Clinicians can monitor their patients’ performance and progress in real time through the app’s online dashboard. They can even adjust an individual’s exhalation profile remotely whenever needed.
Why did you apply to join the programme, and what are you most looking forward to?
The NHS structure presents many challenges, and frontline healthcare workers are under immense strain. My goal is to reduce the burden on NHS staff and empower patients to actively engage with their healthcare plans. I am hopeful that the NHS Patient Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) will provide essential support, connections, and insights to advance this approach and support me in demonstrating the benefits of gamification in healthcare.
What motivates you?
I am passionate about infusing fun and games into challenging treatments. Living with a long-term condition is demanding, and research shows that gamification can make a significant difference to quality of life and adherence for not only patients but clinicians as well. My aim is for this positive impact to result in ‘excellent patients’ who in turn enable clinicians to perform at their best, in delivering the highest quality of care resulting in the best possible outcomes.
What are your ambitions for the next year?
In the coming year, my ambitions revolve around two key areas. Firstly, I aim to extend gamification beyond its current application in CF physiotherapy and explore how it can benefit other chronic diseases. Secondly, securing the funding and support to get our app into more hands of patients and families who need this help. As a social enterprise we’re committed to generate a positive impact for our users.
What is your key piece of advice to aspiring patient entrepreneurs?
It’s the most challenging yet fulfilling journey. Be prepared for the rollercoaster ride—with its inevitable ups and downs. Anticipating and recognising these fluctuations is key to navigating the journey successfully.