Mobile Startups TO

Ep #18 Case Study in Health Care: bant - A diabetes app for the ePatient

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

6:45 PM to 8:00 PM
People & Code

26 Soho Street, Suite 350, Toronto, ON (map)
43.650417 -79.394012

At the building lobby, please use buzzer code "350". Take stairs to third floor, suite 350.
Price: CAD5.00/per person

Refund policy
For episode #18, we're very lucky to get an inside look at Toronto’s bant app, an mHealth solution designed for teens with Type 1 diabetes. The app was designed and developed by Dr. Joseph Cafazzo and his team at the University Health Network, Centre for Global eHealth Innovation in partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto, with input from patients, families, doctors, nurses and engineers.

Named after Canadian Doctor Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin, this app can be used with an iPhone and is one of the first where a glucometer connects wirelessly and adds data to bant workflow seamlessly, with no added burden to the user, using bluetooth low energy (BLE). bant is designed to help Type 1 diabetics, especially children and teenagers (a demographic that often has trouble with tracking blood glucose regularly) record and track their blood sugar levels. The app is integrated with TELUS health space, Powered by Microsoft HealthVault, giving users the ability to store, review, and control the sharing of their personal health information with their care team and family members.

bant app also offers teens the ability to tweet with a particular hashtag, which helps to place them in an active diabetic community for social networking and peer support. It also has a reward system giving iTunes credits for using it to monitor glucose and responding to trends with positive behavioural and lifestyle changes.

In this session, we'll learn more about:

* Design elements and process

* Why the iPhone platform was chosen

* The challenges and opportunities with mobile apps in the health care sector

* Dealing with mobile device threats to healthcare/patient data

* Working with the Apple App Store

* Gamification elements and considerations relating to user experience

* App statistics & measurement

In 2012, bant was nominated in the list of Top 10 World Congress mHealth Innovation Entrepreneurs and was awarded the People’s Choice Award. A free version of bant is already available in 11 languages at the Apple App Store. An advanced version of the application has been developed for use in the pilot which will use a LifeScan OneTouch Mini blood glucose meter to collect and wirelessly transfer readings directly into bant using a Bluetooth adapter developed by the UHN team.

Suggested Readings/Downloads:

About bant app: http://www.bantapp.com/

Download the bant app: https://itunes.apple.com/app/bant-a-diabetes-app-for-epatient/id361257571?mt=8

Bant app video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H9kzqPQShU

Telus Health Space, powered by Microsoft HealthVault : www.telushealthspace.com

Centre for Global eHealth Innovation: http://www.ehealthinnovation.ca/

In the Press:

http://humanfactors.ca/projects/bant-%E2%80%93-a-diabetes-app-for-the-epatient/

Background on our Case Study Series:

The presenting team will lead the discussion by sharing their experiences in mobile. The rest of us give feedback, ask questions and share lessons. Our general rules for peer discussion still apply: no props, no podiums and no pitches.

Background for new attendees:

Mobile Startups TO is a monthly, cross-town meetup to discuss applications and implications of mobile technologies and strategies. Our meetings are best suited for (but not limited to):

* Mobile business founders
* Designers and creative directors
* Marketing professionals
* Independent and professional mobile app developers
* Anyone with an interest in helping to build the mobile revolution
* $5 fee goes towards securing your spot and food/non-alcoholic drinks

Join or login to comment.

Mikey

We're looking for +1 to join our team for ANGELHACK (this Sat-Sun)! We already got tickets so it's free for you! We're building image recognition software with a fresh twist! We're still in the design process so you can shape the future of this project with us. Send me a quick blurb about yourself and we'll get in touch! Thanks!

0 · 4 days ago
Deepak Bhangu

This is interesting. There's another company WellDoc (http://www.welldoc.com/) that I heard about a few years ago that is trying to do something similar in patient management of diabetes.

0 · February 22
- Bonnie Lui
  
  Thanks for your comment Deepak. We are very fortunate to have the team behind Bant app join us in sharing their experiences from designing to developing the app. This was a multi-level collaboration and we're excited to meet the team at this session. See you there! Bonnie
  
  0 · February 22
Nikhil Tumné

Do you mean March 5th? It says June 5th. Holla.

0 · February 22
- Bonnie Lui
  
  Hi Nikhil, the session date is correct for June 5th. We are taking a slight pause for the month of March, but in April we have a design and develop for Windows 8 event - http://www.mobilestar... then in May (still planning) we will host a 1/2 day Windows 8 workshop. Our team is working hard to ensure we have exciting sessions for each month. Thanks! Bonnie
  
  0 · February 22