Curtin spin-out receives $5m boost

Perth-based company PainChek has received a boost after the federal government announced a $5 million program to implement its world-first smartphone pain assessment and monitoring device in aged care centres.

PainChek, formerly ePat Technologies, was developed at Curtin University, and uses an app to automatically detect pain via artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology.

Current research has shown it is effective in driving better quality aged care and improved pain management in residential aged care settings.

The funding makes provision for a universal PainChek access licence for the more than 1,000 residential aged care providers in Australia and their 100,000 residents living with dementia for a one-year period, with the contract still to be finalised.

PainChek chief executive Philip Daffas commended the Federal Government and Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt for showing genuine vision and a strong commitment to improving the care of non-verbal Australians in residential care.

“This investment is set to trigger widespread and long-term use of the PainChek app,” Mr Daffas said.

“From a business perspective we have been focused on how best to facilitate national uptake.

“We have been making good progress by approaching aged care providers individually but this takes the implementation to a whole new level in double-quick time.”

Feedback from current users of PainChek had been very positive, he said, and the new funding would provide equality of access to all service providers and their residents.

“We are well positioned to roll out PainChek rapidly through a range of training programmes and partners including online training capabilities and we will be working hard to implement PainChek as quickly as possible across nominated trial aged care homes,” Mr Daffas said.

“This program will help refine how the app gets integrated into every day clinical care in the aged residential setting.

“PainChek is a uniquely Australian invention being progressed by an Australian leader in digital health innovation.

“The app effectively gives a voice to people who cannot verbalise their pain and we look forward to working with the government to expand our efforts to do just that.”

Chief scientific officer at PainChek Jeff Hughes said he was delighted the government support was focused in the aged care setting.

With more than 220,000 residents in aged care within Australia, of which around 50 per cent are living with dementia, undiagnosed or poorly diagnosed pain is a huge issue among that group, he said.

“This government funding is consistent with our extensive clinical study work which demonstrates the effectiveness and reliability of PainChek in identifying pain,” Professor Hughes said.

Mr Wyatt said PainChek would help some of the most vulnerable Australians, given unidentified pain could be a contributor to behavioural and psychological symptoms, and incorrect prescription of antipsychotic medication.

“Accurately identifying the pain felt by people who have communication challenges can be difficult and with more than 50 per cent of residents in aged care homes living with dementia, there is a widespread risk of under-treated pain,” he said.

“Better pain identification and better medication management means a better quality of life for people receiving aged care.

“This trial will complement the reforms already announced by the Morrison government to improve medication management and provide a record boost to dementia prevention, treatment and support.

“Under the Medical Research Future Fund, our government is providing $185 million over the next decade to establish a dementia, ageing and aged care mission, building on our five-year, $200 million Boosting Dementia Research initiative.”