October 2024
DXS has secured its first NHS commercial contract for its leading-edge AI ExpertCare medicines optimisation solution. This comes after several years of significant company investment in research, development, real-world testing, and evaluations.
The hypertension management solution uses rules-based artificial intelligence (AI) medicines optimisation technology, combined with an effective pharmacist-led implementation methodology designed to manage blood pressure control, via personalised patient-specific therapeutic interventions.
The recently signed contract with Lowestoft Primary Care Network (PCN) involves treating approximately 3,500 hypertensive patients with uncontrolled blood pressure. The aim will be to try and achieve an overall level of blood pressure control to approximately 80% of the practices’ hypertensive patients. The initiative introduces a novel approach to combatting the rising tide of cardiovascular disease, both in the UK and globally.
Raised blood pressure is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease that is responsible for nearly 25% of all UK mortalities, accounting for £7.4bn in treatment costs and £15bn to the wider economy.
ExpertCare, a form of clinical decision support seamlessly integrated into existing NHS primary care clinical systems, is unique in that it can make prescription recommendations for a patient presenting multiple comorbidities. It incorporates NICE-prescribing guidelines and patient-specific data to deliver support to healthcare providers.
Lowestoft PCN, situated in the Greater Yarmouth and Waveney neighbourhood, is currently responsible for about 3,215 annual emergency admissions related to circulatory-related conditions. Furthermore, the Norfolk and Waveney ICB’s Core20 population experience 1,306 more admissions for circulatory conditions compared to the ICB average.
Addressing hypertension at primary care level, including non-medication interventions, is one of the most cost-effective methods for minimising the public health burden. Reducing blood pressure by as small as 10 mmHg in systolic BP or 5 mmHg in diastolic BP can significantly decrease the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction in hypertensive patients.
According to DXS CEO, David Immelman, the Lowestoft contract will allow DXS to make a significant difference to those hypertensive patients who, if left with uncontrolled blood pressure, are likely to succumb to heart attack or stroke.
“It will also help alleviate some of the current pressures in general practice and is likely to result in significant hospitalisation and social care savings for the NHS and the UK economy”, said Mr Immelman.