ANNA Marie Kiernan, advanced nurse practitioner at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, received the Best Use of Innovative Technology Award for her project ‘Patch Me If You Can/Virtually Pain Free’, one of 12 innovative solutions to healthcare challenges recognised at the annual HSE Spark Summit in Dublin.
The winners showcased how using existing resources in different ways can massively improve processes and reduce pressure on healthcare professionals.
‘Patch Me If You Can/Virtually Pain Free’ piloted a gamified augmented reality (AR) tool to reduce procedural pain during Qutenza patch treatments.
The project used AR to distract and engage patients during treatment, resulting in a 48.22 per cent reduction in pain scores—from 5.6 to 2.33 on the numerical rating scale.
All patients using AR during the pilot programme completed the full treatment without additional analgesia. They also reported reduced anxiety, greater satisfaction, and improved feelings of control.
Speaking at the summit, Anna Marie said that “supporting patients through the pain associated with medical procedures, I’ve seen first-hand how powerful ‘distraction’ techniques can be in refocusing their attention and easing discomfort”.
“The AR tool has been welcomed by patients as a new solution for pain relief across different stages of inpatient care It is remarkably user-friendly for such modern technology —crucial for patient adoption.”
Caitriona Heffernan, HSE Spark Innovation Lead, said that “the Spark Summit is just one day in the year – but it represents the culmination of countless hours of dedication, creativity, and collaboration by frontline staff across the health service”.
