The frontline healthcare language app, CardMedic, has been awarded £499,683 in funding from SBRI Healthcare to support the development of a first-of-its-kind, AI-enabled language portal. The 12-month project will enhance access to real-time language support at the point of care within NHS urgent and emergency care settings, thereby improving patient safety and tackling health inequity.
CardMedic’s current app is a highly intuitive digital front door that gives frontline healthcare staff fast access to a suite of clinically-validated language and communication support services. It is used by over 25 healthcare providers across the UK and in the US to better communicate with patients with Limited English Proficiency, those with disabilities and sensory impairments, and people with lower health literacy.
The funding comes as part of a larger £3.9 million award by SBRI Healthcare, an Accelerated Access Collaborative initiative in partnership with the Health Innovation Network, awarded to nine pioneering companies focused on improving Urgent & Emergency Care (UEC). These awards, developed after extensive consultation with clinicians and sector stakeholders, target solutions that enhance access, reduce hospital stays, and support the healthcare workforce.
The SBRI Healthcare funding will support CardMedic with the technical development of the new portal, as well as patient engagement initiatives and clinical validation. The portal will provide instant access to the thousands of pre-translated clinical interactions currently available via the CardMedic Frontline app, plus speedier access to real-time interpreter and language services – giving patients, staff and wider operational teams enhanced access to the languages services they need, efficiently and at the point of care.
The project aims to demonstrate how digital innovation and cutting-edge technologies such as AI can improve healthcare accessibility and improve access to language service providers.
The initiative will involve extensive collaboration with clinical teams and patients to ensure the portal meets real-world needs and help with widespread adoption across the NHS on a national level.
This funding will enable CardMedic to help more healthcare providers efficiently identify and address the diverse communication needs of every patient.
Tim Grimaldi, Co-founder of CardMedic, shared his reaction: “The current barriers to equitable care that many patients face, particularly those with language barriers or communication difficulties, remain a significant challenge.
“SBRI’s support will help us bring our solution to more patients and healthcare workers who desperately need better ways to communicate where barriers exist, and help the NHS meet its immediate and longer-term needs as efficiently as possible.
“Less than 3% of innovations secure grant-funding, so we’re incredibly humbled by the acknowledgement this award represents.”
Verena Stocker, Director of Innovation, Research, Life Sciences and Strategy, NHS England, and CEO of the Accelerated Access Collaborative, commented: “The SBRI Healthcare awards help the NHS develop new technologies to address some of the biggest challenges in healthcare. We have selected these innovations because they have the potential to make a significant difference in urgent and emergency care.”
Already used by thousands of healthcare professionals, CardMedic’s standalone language app provides on-demand access to thousands of clinically interpreted interactions in almost 50 languages, as well as formats such as EasyRead and sign language. This helps improve patient safety, enhance the quality of care, and promote health equity. At the same time, it reduces the burden on stretched health and care professionals and releases time to care.
The latest version of the CardMedic app – a cornerstone of the new portal – is currently being rolled out. Instant access to live interpreting services with a single tap or click is included, amongst a range of enhanced usability features.
Customers such as North East London integrated care system uses CardMedic to support more equitable access to its maternity services, whilst leading European cancer hospital The Christie uses the technology to aid patient-clinician interactions and provide much-needed reassurance during cancer treatment.
CardMedic will now work closely with a major NHS provider to prepare its new portal for broader adoption and implementation.
