Exco InTouch Compliance and Retention Initiatives are powered by InTouch Clinical, our class leading communication product.

Using a unique combination of Internet & Mobile Phone technology InTouch Clinical automatically schedules and delivers cell phone based text messages direct to the patient in their preferred language and local time zone.

Sites

As we all recognise today’s site staff are extremely busy, with this in mind we offer a straightforward mechanism for the sites to enrol, manage and review patient compliance information.

Following training site users access the secure Exco InTouch website using a unique username and password. Subjects are enrolled quickly and easily using their subject ID, cell phone number and first visit date, the system then calculates the subjects ideal visit schedule and assigns appropriate messaging to be sent at the required study milestones.

This electronic timetable can then be used by the site to tailor the patient's reminders. These will be either sent via SMS text message to the mobile phone or to a nominated email account.

It is important to provide features that help the site with their work processes. Exco InTouch have built in several features that help the site manage patients more effectively:

• System calculates personal visit schedule for each patient which simplifies the visit calculations for the site staff
• Helps site keep visits within allocated visit window for each visit (warning message triggered when date outside of range is selected)
• Site will be reminded about telephone assessments (if required) for each patient so that these important milestones are not forgotten about
• After each visit has passed the site will receive an automated email prompting them to log in to the InTouch Clinical system and update the visit date accordingly
• Site can receive emails informing them when a patient is due for their next visit so that they can plan resources accordingly
• System can be used to manage PK sub study patients and extend patients into follow up phases

Patients

As with all technology solutions, for it to be a successful, the end user must be satisfied. With all Exco InTouch solutions, during the requirements and design phase, we gather as much information as possible about the typical patient who will use this service.

The system can be designed to take multiple phone numbers if required so that in the event that the patient does not attend the visit or cannot be contacted, the secondary contacts can be approached.

Once enrolled, patients will begin to receive SMS reminders about study milestones. As this information is delivered via SMS, training of patients is not generally required.

All SMS Text Messages are scheduled and managed via our patented ATLAS SMS gateway. ATLAS is a global, enterprise SMS text messaging application that works in conjunction with InTouch Clinical.

Using validated cellular networks, ATLAS schedules, sends and tracks delivery of SMS text messages worldwide. Currently ATLAS connects to over 750 mobile networks in 220 countries providing a reliable and robust mobile network for sites and patients to connect with. All SMS text messages transmitted by InTouch Clinical are subject to a full audit trail and receipt generation mechanism which means we know when a text message has been successfully received by a patient.

Unlike pre-configured static reminders in other systems, SMS text message reminders are delivered from a central server using NTP (Network Time Protocol). This ensures they will be delivered at the correct time and we can track the successful delivery, rather than relying on a local clock setting of the device.

Exco InTouch use only approved and audited mobile networks in conjunction with our ATLAS software. This is essential to guarantee against SPAM messaging and also in protecting patient's confidentiality. For example, in the USA, messages must be sent through a dedicated mobile shortcode which is controlled by a registered company and approved by each cellular network independently. This global infrastructure has taken over 18 months to develop and validate and we are proud to offer this capability to our clients.

Our solution is fully compliant with the regulatory requirements of the FDA and HIPAA concerning patient privacy and data protection. The solution is approved by ethics and IRB's globally and is proven to be effective in patient management by automating text message communication.

InTouch Clinical is configured by the Exco InTouch project delivery team to match the requirements of the protocol and other trial milestones / deliverables. Our project team guide clients through system set up study conduct to ensure the system is utilised to the full potential.

Once the system is live, patients are enrolled by trained site staff via a simple and secure website which creates no additional workload and provides a useful reference point to help site staff manage their day to day tasks.

Patient communication is automated throughout the trial, a typical retention and compliance program will employ one or a combination of the following types of messages:

• Visit Reminders. Enrolled patients receive timed reminders regarding their next clinic appointment. These can be either one way reminders or two way, prompting the patient to confirm that they can or cannot attend the appointment.
• Medication Reminders. Everyone forgets to take their medication from time to time. This problem is further compounded when patients are taking multiple medications (poly-pharmacy) or have a complicated, varying regimen. SMS can be sent according to medication, dose and frequency to remind patients when and how to take their medication safely.
• Study Compliance & Motivation. Simply by forgetting to fast or to take a sample of urine can result in a patient being ineligible for the study. Our timed reminders can help reduce these oversights and help to motivate the patient to adhere to the study milestones and protocol requirements.
• Two way global text messaging service can be implemented to collect data directly from patients.
• Alerts to sites, CRA’s and Sponsor team members regarding protocol violations.
• Alerts to sites regarding updating visit schedule and up and coming visits.

How can we help your study to succeed?

Let us review your draft protocol, then we'll provide a quote and a proposal. We can even show you a live demo so you can witness first hand the benefits of Exco InTouch's solutions.

Kick off only takes two hours and we do nearly all the work. We mandate the adoption of the tool, whereas you only need to invest one man day of effort from start to finish. We will train and provide eLearning, allowing you rest easier because the subject and site compliance is not left to chance.

To book a demo, request a quote or speak to an Exco InTouch expert, please use the "I like what I see" form at the top of this page and we will contact you shortly.