The app reminds patients to comply with I COUGH activities, encourages them to enlist a care coach from their contacts list, and allows them to confidentially compare their progress to other patients. Chu says he and Haroon wanted to make I COUGH more fun and engaging for patients.
Chu and Haroon started developing the mobile app in 2016. BMC surgeons began testing the app, which is available in English and Spanish, in 2017 with a proof-of-concept study that has involved 17 patients so far. Feedback from patients is positive, and results have been encouraging.
App is one piece of a complete prevention program
The original I COUGH program, which was implemented in 2010 for all patients recovering from operations on the General Surgery and Vascular Surgery services, resulted in reduced rates of postoperative pneumonia and unplanned intubation. At one time, BMC offered access to I COUGH tools on its website but discovered that staff at some hospitals used parts of the program in isolation. Pam Rosenkranz, Director of Clinical Quality and Patient Safety for BMC’s Department of Surgery, says, “We want hospitals to be successful with the program, not implement it in a piecemeal fashion. I COUGH is a complete pulmonary complications prevention program, not just a cute acronym.”
Hospitals may contract with BMC to implement I COUGH, with coaching from Ms. Rosenkranz. Patient education videos and brochures are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese, the languages spoken most often by BMC patients.
Vice Chair of Surgery David McAneny, M.D., says BMC wants to make the app publicly available, “for the benefit of all,” once it is ready and the hospital has worked out the details.
Meanwhile, Chu and Haroon’s experience may provide inspiration for others to solve problems with digital apps. Although developing and testing the app has been a big project, Chu and the rest of the I COUGH team encourage other organizations to consider taking a similar approach.
Chu reflects:
Until very recently, Samir and I were medical students with no prior experience building mobile apps, but we were passionate about improving care with digital technology. We pooled our clinical experience with that of colleagues who know technology and built the app from scratch. It is do-able and so exciting.
