Baxter updates home peritoneal dialysis management app MyPD

Baxter Korea said Wednesday that the company has updated “MyPD,” its digital care management app for home peritoneal dialysis patients, by adding photo capture capabilities.

Launched in June, MyPD allows Baxter peritoneal dialysis users to record dialysis exchange, vital signs, including weight and blood pressure, and other treatment information on their mobile devices. This data is integrated with Sharesource, a digital patient management platform for healthcare providers, allowing them to view and manage treatment data for home peritoneal dialysis patients digitally.

The new photo capture feature allows patients to take photos of their peritoneal dialysis treatments and send up to five photos daily to their care team. That allows patients to ask questions about the condition of their catheterization site, the appearance of their drained dialysate, including color, clarity, and fibrin, and the presence of swelling and rashes.

Healthcare providers can view patient-submitted photos via Sharesource and, if necessary, conduct a phone consultation or arrange an outpatient visit.

This feature is available for patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and automated peritoneal dialysis (APD). It is available only to patients whose providers have determined they need the photo capture feature. Both MyPD and Sharesource data are properly secured and managed.

According to Baxter, home peritoneal dialysis patients can use MyPD’s photo capture to ask questions about their treatment and receive digital care from their caregivers more conveniently, having peace of mind and confidence in their dialysis treatment process. It allows healthcare providers to get a more detailed and accurate view of the patient's condition and regularly monitor the progress of home peritoneal dialysis treatment.

The recent update added features such as the “keeping screen on” and “inputting abdominal cavity emptying (drying) time,” in addition to the photo capture feature.

The “keeping screen on” feature ensures the mobile screen is not turned off for 45 minutes. It reduces the risk of infection, including peritonitis, by eliminating the need for patients to touch the mobile screen during dialysis. The “inputting the time of abdominal cavity emptying (drying)” allows patients to record the time in the app, enabling detailed treatment record management.

“As peritoneal dialysis is a treatment that patients perform at home, smooth communication between patients and healthcare providers is crucial,” Baxter Korea CEO Im Kwang-hyuk said. “The photo capture feature of the MyPD app is the first of its kind in Korea and will help patients communicate more accurately, leading to improved treatment outcomes.”

Baxter's Kidney Care and Acute Care business is being spun off as Vantive, a new kidney care company from global investment firm Carlyle Group.