Jan 11 2011
WellApps, LLC, developer of GI Monitor for Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis, announced today the release of Colonoscopy Prep Assistant. During the portion of colonoscopy preparation when a patient ingests a liquid laxative, Colonoscopy Prep Assistant tracks the number of glasses completed and time between glasses, notifying the patient when it's time to drink their next glass. The app is available for free in iTunes and the Android Market.
As an Ulcerative Colitis patient, Brett Shamosh, Co-Founder & CEO of WellApps, LLC, is at a higher risk for colon cancer and undergoes an annual colonoscopy for screening. During a recent colonoscopy prep, he was instructed by his doctor to drink 8 glasses of a liquid laxative every 10-15 minutes for 2 hours. Said Mr. Shamosh, "I used a notepad to tally the number of drinks and a stopwatch to keep track of time. Then I decided that there should be an app for that." The app is currently intended for liquid laxative preps, but WellApps is enhancing the app to support all specific colonoscopy preparation methods suggested by providers. Edward Shin, MD, Co-Founder of WellApps, adds, "I have no doubt that providers will begin to prescribe apps for colonoscopy and other procedure preparations. Apps can guide the patient through their specific prep as if a nurse was there with them."
Procedure preparation apps can offer significant benefits to patients and providers. Arun Swaminath, Associate Director of the IBD Center at Columbia University Medical Center, says "Thorough bowel preparation allows me to identify the smallest polyps or cancers. In addition, good prep shortens the procedure's duration, making it safer for patients. Strict adherence to prep instructions allows for the highest quality colonoscopy." Procedure preparation apps also provide unique opportunities to Pharmaceutical companies looking to enhance their products. Bill Jennings, CEO of Good Health Media, says "Pharma is always trying to collect feedback from patients. With apps like these, they can get real-time survey information right after the prep is completed, while suggestions for improvement are fresh in the mind of the patient."
Inspired by an ongoing battle with Ulcerative Colitis, 35-year old Brett Shamosh, a digital media executive from Bergen County, NJ, decided to use the booming smartphone app market to help fellow IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) patients. He created GI Monitor, currently the #1 mobile symptom tracking app for Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis. Since then, he started WellApps, LLC to develop and distribute symptom tracking applications for patients with chronic illnesses. Shamosh says, "We know that apps can help make procedure preps more effective and prevent do-overs. The release of this particular app also serves as a great reminder that IBD patients are at a higher risk of colon cancer and should get screened regularly, as directed by their doctor."
Colonoscopy Prep Assistant is free to patients and is currently available at www.wellapps.com.
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