151: Could mobile apps be the answer to managing food allergies?
Could mobile health apps, known as mHealth, be the answer to managing food allergies for those who live with them? Millions of patients suffering from allergic diseases may benefit from mHealth innovations. The European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology created a task force to assess the development and future potential of ICT in the field of allergy. Food allergy apps could play a significant role for different stakeholders, including patients and patient organisations, GPs and the food industry. Joining Table Talk to explain the opportunities, the potential, and the risks around food-allergy supporting mHealth are James Gardner, Allergy Nurse Consultant, Great North Children’s Hospital and Professor Michael Rudenko MD, PHD, FAAAAI, Allergy Consultant, Specialist in Allergy and Immunology, Medical Director and Founder of London Allergy and Immunology Centre. We explore this expanding sector and take a look at what the future might hold for mHealth and food allergy management. About our guests James Gardner, Allergy Nurse Consultant, Great North Children’s Hospital James previously worked with the allergy teams at St Mary’s Hospital, Evelina Children’s Hospital, Royal Free Hospital & Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, all in London. After relocating, he is currently the Children’s and Young Persons Allergy Nurse Consultant at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle and Associate Clinical Lecturer in Newcastle University and he is the programme lead of the Allergy E-module. He is the Secretary of the Allied Health working group in the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. He is involved in several European task force groups through the academy including competencies for allied health working allergy and M-health. He is involved with many food allergy support groups and regularly on various allergy social media groups (Twitter @allergynurseuk). Professor Michael Rudenko MD, PHD, FAAAAI, Allergy Consultant, Specialist in Allergy and Immunology, Medical Director and Founder of London Allergy and Immunology Centre Prof Rudenko founded London Allergy and Immunology Centre in 2011 as a single practice. The centre has been externally audited and was accredited as a Centre of Excellence and Reference for conditions Urticaria and Angioedema UCARE and ACARE.