Nuva was a website developed to give women more control over their skin by delivering easy access to specialist advice and prescription medication. It was at the forefront of remote consultations as most assessments were asynchronous.
Patients completed a detailed online assessment which would redirect any who were inappropriate for online care. The assessment was then reviewed by a GP who had been given additional training on the management of acne.
Where specialist dermatologist care was required, a secondary assessment was completed and a video appointment was made with a consultant dermatologist, for the prescription of Roaccutane. These patients were enrolled on an intense monitoring pathway, including regular blood and pregnancy tests undertaken at home. We aimed to provide gold-standard care in Roaccutane prescriptions, without any face to face contact.
This was a pilot project that provided me with many lessons on balancing business and clinical needs in a competitive environment. Sadly the pilot was not commercially viable in the longer term, but the experience was invaluable.
Key learning points:
Be cautious with combining “white glove” and high risk services with minimal viable product (MVP)
At the start of a project, aim to keep the clinical team small
Ensure that the existence of a service isn’t dependent on a single clinician
Listen to the clinical voices at the start of a project, don’t allow them to be drowned out by statistics
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