PatientConnect Mobile Release Notes

Release Notes

PatientConnect Mobile

ClinicianConnect

ClinicianConnect Mobile

PatientConnect Tablet

CaregiverConnect Mobile

For PatientConnect Mobile, the following are our minimum software versions:

iOS: PCM (PC 3.0.0+)  

  • Target iOS 14 (2020 Release, but compatible with devices back to 2015)
    • Will also support higher versions recently released (iOS 15 and 16, though these have not been tested by QA)
  • Devices compatible with iOS 14

Android: PCM (PC 3.0.0+)  

  • Minimum SDK is 26 - Android Version 8 (Oreo)
  • Maximum SDK is 33 - Android 13 (latest tested by QA)
  • PCMT
    • Our tablets that have been approved for release include include S5E (Android 9, 10, 11), A7 LITE (Android 11)
    • Android 13
      • A7 LITE has received the Android 13 update, but it needs a full regression test

The latest version of PatientConnect Redesign provides key improvements to your and your patients’ experiences in a few important areas:  

  • Streamlining the patient-to-patient device changeover process. We've improved Bluetooth pairing so that clinicians and patients experience fewer instances where Bluetooth devices unpair from the tablet as the kit transitions from one patient to another. 
  • Preventing tablets from showing a black screen. Tablets better adapt to PatientConnect’s necessary memory usage as users interact with the app and complete their daily tasks. 
  • Simplifying and refining the Bluetooth transmission process for glucometer users. We've adjusted how PatientConnect receives and processes readings from the True Metrix Air or True Metrix by Nipro glucometers, resulting in a smoother and more accurate Bluetooth process overall. 
  • Enhancing support for Glucose users with an additional unit of measurement. Organizations utilizing Millimoles per Liter (mmol/L) as their unit of measurement for glucose readings can now see and hear mmol/L as their default metric on all HRS products.

Continue reading to learn more about each improvement.

 

Improvement: Bluetooth Pairing Continuity Between Devices and Tablets

  • To simplify your workflow between patient kit assignments, we improved Bluetooth pairing to help prevent Bluetooth devices from unpairing in-between patient profile assignments.
  • This reduces the opportunity for your devices to unpair in between patient assignments (regardless of the length of time between assignments), simplifies the changeover process for inventory managers, and empowers more patients to smoothly transition to at-home care.

 

Improvement: Refining the Glucometer-to-Tablet Bluetooth Transmission Process 

  • To provide our Glucose health task users and their clinicians with a better overall experience, we refined how PatientConnect receives and process health readings submitted from the True Metrix Air or True Metrix by Nipro glucometers.

 

New Feature: Millimoles Per Liter Available as Unit of Measurement for Glucose 

  • In support of our international users, we introduced Millimoles Per Liter (mmol/L) as an available unit of measurement for our Glucose health task
  • If your organization utilizes mmol/L as your standard unit of measurement for Glucose, PatientConnect will display and audibly announce “mmol/L” in all areas of the app, including users submit their metrics.

 

Bug Fixes

  • We made a few backend updates to prevent tablets from displaying a black screen that stops users from interacting with PatientConnect.

Behind-The-Scenes Software Updates & Bug Fixes:

  • We've made a few updates to our system and resolved a few bugs to provide a better, more seamless experience for our PatientConnect users.

Improvement: Reliability and Consistency of Tablet Status Updates

  • We have increased the speed within which tablets will process and display changes to its status, including the:
    • Assignment of a Patient Profile to the tablet.
    • Updating of a previously assigned Patient Profile and/or Care Plan.
    • Recording and processing of biometric submissions.
    • Recording and processing survey submissions.

Improvement: Increased Text Size Within PatientConnect App

  • We’ve increased the size of the on-screen text throughout many parts of PatientConnect, including the:
    • Home Screen Navigation Bar
    • Menu
    • Contact button
    • Messages window
    • Device Instructions pages

PC-Tablet-Increased-Text-Size-Highlighted-1

Pictured Above: Increasing the text size of certain words and lists will further assist our users with visual impairments and make PatientConnect a more accessible app.

Improvement: PatientConnect Can “Read Aloud” Metrics 

  • To better support our users with visual impairments, PatientConnect Redesign can audibly announce a submitted metric to the user. 
  • In addition, to guarantee time for PatientConnect Redesign to audibly announce the metric, the submission countdown timer increased to 8 seconds. Previously, it was a 5-second countdown timer. 

Improvement: "Charging" Symbol Introduced on PatientConnect Home Screen 

  • When a PatientConnect Redesign user plugs the tablet into a power source, and the tablet is charging, the PatientConnect Home Screen will display a lightning bolt icon overtop of the battery icon. This lightning bolt icon informs that tablet user that their tablet is charging.

PC-Tablet-Battery-Charging-Symbol

Pictured Above: The new "device charging" symbol will inform PatientConnect Tablet users of the tablet's current charging status.

Improvement: User Accessibility Enhancements Throughout PatientConnect  

  • We’ve increased the contrast between certain elements within the application. Doing so improves readability for visually impaired users.
  • Increased our app’s accessibility with “descriptive text” that will allow screen readers and assistive technology to read out additional, page-specific information.
  • Enhanced our level of support for device-specific font size increases by an iPhone (iOS) user, so that PatientConnect Mobile will display the user’s preferred font size.
  • If a PatientConnect user has a keyboard plugged into their device, they can use the Escape (ESC) button to close pop-up screens and return to the previous page. For example, the patient could press ESC to close the Blood Pressure module and return to the PatientConnect Home Screen.

Improvement: Audio Alerts for Reminders

  • PatientConnect Mobile users will hear their device’s standard audio sounds for app reminders. 
  • PatientConnect will feature a new audio notification language for reminders.

Improvement: “Assign A Patient” Screen to Display the PatientConnect Version Number

  • To help a tablet user understand which version of PatientConnect their tablet is using, the PatientConnect Version Number will now appear on the “Assign A Patient” screen. 

PC-Tablet-Version-Number

Pictured Above: Placing the PatientConnect Version Number on the “Assign A Patient” screen helps a tablet user understand the current software version without assigning a patient OR contacting HRS for assistance. 

Improvement: "Contact” Button Hidden From PatientConnect Users Who Do Not Use Voice Calling, Video Calling, and Messaging

  • If a ClinicianConnect user disables communication for a patient, or the patient does not have an assigned clinician, that patient will not see the Contact Clinician dropdown menu item within PatientConnect.

Improvement: Historical Bluetooth Readings No Longer Recorded or Transmitted to ClinicianConnect.  

  • If a patient records a reading with a health device while the tablet is powered off or is out of range, and then takes another reading later with the tablet powered on and within range, the tablet will only transmit the most recent reading.

Improvement: Updated Pairing Instructions for Bluetooth Health Devices 

  • PatientConnect users will see clearer, more informative pairing instructions for each supported Bluetooth health device. 
  • We’ve removed instructions for health devices that are no longer supported.

February 13, 2023

Improvement: Consent Form Submission

We’ve made an improvement that will help you have a better experience using PatientConnect by resolving an issue some users experienced while submitting a consent form. 

Please note, you may see a Bluetooth Pairing Request pop-up message following this update. If you receive a Bluetooth Pairing Request, please tap on Pair. 

Pictured: an example of a Bluetooth Pairing Request pop-up message. 

January 5, 2023

Improvement: Android Device Users Will Hear Audible Notification of Incoming Calls and Messages

  • When a patient receives a video or voice call from their care team or caregiver, the patient will hear an audible notification of the incoming call or message.  
    • For voice or video calls, the patient will hear a “ringing” notification.  
    • For a text message, the patient will hear a “beeping” tone. 
  • To hear the notification, a patient must have their device’s volume turned on.

Improvement: PDF Documents Will Open Right in PatientConnect Mobile

  • When a patient taps on an assigned PDF document, PatientConnect Mobile will automatically open their PDF right within the app. Patients will still be able to scroll up and down, zoom in, and zoom out just like before. 

Improvement: Caregivers Organized Alphabetically by First Name

  • No matter the order that two or more caregivers are added for a patient, the caregivers will now appear in alphabetical order by first name.

Bug Fixes

  • On-screen text becomes a bit easier to read with some minor UI polishing. 

March 3, 2022


New Feature: Additional Welch Allyn and TaiDoc Peripheral Devices

  • To better serve our patients and clinicians, we’re adding a new blood pressure monitor, scale, and thermometer to our inventory of available peripheral devices:
    • Welch Allyn Home® Blood Pressure Monitor
    • Welch Allyn Home® Scale
    • TaiDoc TD-1107 Ear Thermometer


Improvement: “Reset Metrics” Button Added to Four Modules

  • Looking for an updated reading? Patients will soon be able to submit additional metrics for the Activity, Medication, Survey, and Weight modules as clinicians gain the ability to reset a patient’s metrics through ClinicianConnect.


Improvement: Adding a Patient Consent Form Reset Button

  • Clinicians gain the ability to reset a patient’s consent form through the patient’s profile, allowing the patient to review and complete the consent form more than once during their care journey.


Improvement: Available Bluetooth Devices List to Only Show HRS-Supported Peripherals

  • With the goal of simplifying the pairing process and avoiding confusion for patients, PatientConnect Mobile users will only see HRS-supported peripherals on the Device List page going forward.


Improvement: The “Wound Imaging” Module Will Become the “Imaging” Module

  • To better reflect the module’s true capabilities for clinicians, patients, and caregivers, the “Wound Imaging” module will appear as the “Imaging” module:
    • On the PatientConnect Mobile Home Screen
    • As the title text once a patient opens the Imaging module from PatientConnect Mobile’s Home Screen


Bug Fixes

  • Resolution of issues impacting the patient’s overall experience using PatientConnect Mobile