Patients Know Best and Heartfelt Technologies Collaborate to Accelerate Clinical Trial Recruitment

Why It Matters

The collaboration proves that digital patient‑record ecosystems can dramatically accelerate clinical trial enrollment, expanding access for hard‑to‑reach populations and speeding the delivery of innovative heart‑failure monitoring technologies.

Key Takeaways

• 16 patients enrolled in four weeks, 135% faster recruitment
• 1,251 banner views, 53 clicks, 69% shared records
• AI‑driven device monitors foot volume passively for edema
• Patient‑led platform expands trial reach to underserved groups
• PKB platform now matches trials to over 3 million records

Pulse Analysis

Digital transformation is reshaping how clinical trials find participants. Traditional recruitment relies on busy clinicians manually identifying eligible patients, a process that often stalls enrollment and limits diversity. By embedding coded health‑record data into the Patients Know Best (PKB) platform, researchers can surface relevant studies directly to patients’ personal health dashboards. This self‑service model not only reduces administrative overhead but also empowers individuals to opt‑in, share records, and engage on their own terms, creating a more efficient pipeline from awareness to enrollment.

The HF‑TRACK trial illustrates the tangible benefits of this approach. Heartfelt Technologies’ non‑contact monitoring system uses proprietary 3D sensing and artificial intelligence to detect subtle changes in foot volume—a proxy for peripheral oedema—while patients go about their daily routines. Early detection of worsening heart failure can trigger timely interventions, potentially averting emergency hospitalisations. Recruiting 16 participants in a month, with a 135% higher rate than the trial’s average, validates that a digital‑first strategy can accelerate the validation of life‑saving technologies, especially in populations traditionally labeled as “hard to reach.”

Beyond a single study, the partnership signals a broader shift toward equitable, data‑driven research. PKB’s expanding database now matches trials to over three million patient records, positioning the platform to support national initiatives like the NHS’s new population health engine and international projects such as Lagos State’s Smart Health Information Platform. As regulators and funders push for faster, more inclusive trials, platforms that combine interoperable health data with patient autonomy will become essential infrastructure for the next wave of medical innovation.