Completed pilot
Health

Mobile ODT / Apollo Hospitals

Mobile ODT  created the Enhanced Visual Assessment (EVA) System, an integrated cervical cancer screening and patient tracking system that enables ongoing engagement with patients through a smartphone platform. In this pilot, Apollo Hospitals integrated the EVA system for digital cervicography into their primary screening for cervical cancer to reduce “loss to follow-up” and to provide point-of-care diagnosis. 

The primary objective of the pilot was to evaluate the effectiveness of the EVA System, in comparison to existing cervical cancer screening techniques at various Apollo Hospital centers, and to ensure it meets quality standards. A secondary goal was to conduct quality assurance through image review of all screeners by an expert colposcopist in the secure, online portal to better understand the skill level and uniformity of protocol followed by providers.

Duration

January 5, 2016 – November 2, 2017

Locations

The pilot was conducted in seven centers, spanning four states in India, to reach both rural and urban populations across all income levels. Locations in which pilots were conducted include:

  • Apollo First Med, Chennai
  • Apollo Aragonda/Apollo Total Health
  • Apollo Tondiarpet Hospital, Chennai
  • Apollo Specialty Hospital Vanagaram, Chennai
  • Apollo Hyderabad (2 locations)
  • Apollo Madurai

Innovator

Mobile ODT

Results
  • Over 700 patients were screened with the EVA system.
  • The EVA System led to a suspected increase in the number of precancerous or cancerous cases detected at the primary screening where conventional Pap smears indicated a normal screening.
  • Using the EVA System as a screening method, almost three times as many women were identified as having positive dysplasia in comparison to identification via a Pap smear. With EVA, these patients could be diagnosed and treated (or counseled) at the first visit, whereas a Pap smear would have missed these cases.
  • High satisfaction: The EVA System scored either 4/5 or 5/5 on all measures of feasibility, usability, ease of training, patient satisfaction, and provider satisfaction with MobileODT support and engagement.
  • When asked how using the EVA System influenced the way providers interact with patients, responses included:easy to describe abnormal images, it helped in explaining risks to patients, increased awareness, simplicity, and better patient understanding of the need for follow-up. 
Lessons Learned
  • Both clinical and administrative decision makers focus on data proven technology adoption. Even if regulatory approval and non-inferiority trials exist, decision makers would not purchase devices without statistically significant data collected within India. 
  • In India, a physical office with support staff is critical. Many decision makers will not purchase devices from a company without a physical presence in India, as customer support is a critical component of their purchasing decisions.

What partners say

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"In India, we have used this device both in the main hospital, and for community screenings, where we can simply carry it and conduct examinations. In cases where lesions where detected, we were able to show the patient what we were talking about like ectropion, cervicitis, and so on and was easy to convince them to go for treatment wherever indicated."

Apollo hospitals

Dr. Renuka Matti

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