mHealth and Wearable Technology
Dr. Nirmish Shah's research work includes the usage of mHealth technology and wearable devices to better understand the disease experience of people living with chronic illnesses. Using smartwatches to predict pain scores in people living with sickle cell, understanding symptom burden in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy or a stem-cell transplant, and even using a phone camera's to better understand movement in people post-surgery are just some of the technology Shah has been a part of.
Nanbar Health App
Nanbar is a remote monitoring technology to monitor people living with various illnesses. Dr. Nirmish Shah has played an advisory role in the development of Nanbar Health, and has provided valuable insight in to the healthcare needs of people living with chronic pain, sickle cell, alongside other disease populations. Using his years of experience and research backing has helped Nanbar understand not only what those living with such diseases can benefit from, but how providers can use similarly collected information from mobile applications to better serve the needs of the people they care for.
TRU-SCD
TRU-SCD was developed in collaboration with sickle cell providers from all over the country. TRU-SCD collects information utilizing the Apple Watch and iOS platform to connect providers to those living with chronic illness in real time. TRU-SCD was made for those living with sickle-cell but works with a variety of conditions that express pain and fatigue.
ST3P-UP
Dr. Nirmish Shah has an immense interest in the transition period for those living with sickle cell disease. As a pediatric patient leaves the pediatric clinic, a young person's responsibilities increase and their need to better understand and manage their disease do as well. ST3P-UP was designed by Dr. Shah to aid in transitioning young adolescents with sickle cell to adult care. ST3P-UP includes a chat portal for transition care coordinators to help manage the transition, educational tools for young people and parents to read, and even some of Dr. Shah's illustration work.
HU-Toolbox
Hydroxyurea, frequently called HU, is a drug prescribed as a standard of care for people living with sickle cell disease. With spatial disparity as one of the largest barriers to adequate healthcare for people living with sickle cell, management of HU can be difficult from a local primary care provider, and a sickle cell specialist may be too far from a patient's home. With HU Toolbox, Dr. Nirmish Shah helped develop the app to help providers through the management of a HU prescription, ensuring the best care for the patient, and reducing the knowledge gap a provider may have. HU Toolbox included education, a chat portal to talk with a sickle cell specialist at the nearest sickle cell center, and a chatbot that walked a provider through certain questions regarding management of HU.
SCD-Toolbox
Sickle cell disease is a complex disorder that affects many areas of the body, and as people living with sickle cell continue to live longer and more successful lives, the need for a wider variety of care providers to understand how to help someone with sickle cell increases. In an attempt to provide a central source of truth towards understanding sickle cell and providing resources for healthcare providers to better care for those living with sickle cell, SCD-Toolbox was created.
Funded by the North Carolina State Sickle Cell Program, SCD Toolbox was created with input from various primary care providers, emergency department physicians, sickle cell disease specialists, and our vast sickle cell care network. SCD Toolbox includes various resources, definition, terminology, treatment methodologies, and other aspects of SCD Care, to ensure the best for those living with sickle cell disease.