A Clinical Companion is a tool to enrich the pediatric patient experience. It consists of an interactive plush Companion and a mobile app that patients can use to provide simulated medical care to their Companion, customized to match the medical procedures of the clinical trial. The mobile app also includes unlockable content to help engage patients throughout their study journey.
For Participants
Every Clinical Companion has a tag with a special QR code. Participants can scan this QR code with their mobile device for a link to open the app store and download the app. The link will automatically set up the app as a participant in the clinical study that they are involved in. If it does not, the app will prompt the participant to re-scan the QR code to complete the setup process. Note, family members can use the QR code on the Companion’s tag to download the app on multiple mobile devices, including phones and iPads.
For Sites & CRAs
The back of the Site Training Guide handout provided within the site kit has a demo QR code. Site personnel and CRAs can scan this QR code for a link to open the app store and download the app. The link will automatically set up the app as a demo version for a particular clinical study. If it does not, the app will prompt the user to re-scan the QR code to complete the setup process.
The Clinical Companions App is available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
The Clinical Companions App works on most modern devices running iOS 15 and newer or Android 10.0 or newer.
If you have any questions about device support, please email us at help@clinicalcompanions.com.
You can swipe through the Companion’s interactive world to provide simulated medical care in the virtual clinic. In the clinic you can select a virtual medical tool, and then scan the corresponding patch on your interactive plush to trigger a simulated medical interaction.
You can also explore other areas of the app to unlock underwater surprises, make a painting, feed the Companion at the food truck, and more! The app is based on augmented reality, combining fun digital content with the real world. Training videos can be found at clinicalcompanions.com/trainingvideos.
The Empath Labs team is happy to set up a call with study personnel for additional training. Please email us at help@clinicalcompanions.com and include the study ID number in the subject line to schedule a call or ask any additional questions.
Empath Labs collects fully anonymized analytics on app usage, solely to understand how and for how long participants engage with the mobile app. We do not collect any personally identifiable information.
The complete Privacy Policy is available at: https://www.clinicalcompanions.com/privacy
If a participant has lost their Companion, site staff should contact Empath Labs to arrange for a replacement by emailing help@clinicalcompanions.com and including the study ID in the subject line.
We have several different companions available to participants, depending on the study that they are involved in. The mobile app is fully customized for the particular Companion that each patient receives.
No - Clinical Companions are designed using principles from Child Life Specialists as a tool to reduce anxiety by helping participants understand what they are going to experience during a clinical study. The Clinical Companion is designed to accompany the patient on their study journey.
While we recommend that patients and families download the mobile app to experience the full benefits of the Clinical Companions program, the companion itself can still be used without a smart device. Patients can engage in imaginative medical play with their plush companion without the mobile app.
Yes, when a participant receives a Clinical Companion, it is theirs to keep! While they will not be able to re-download the mobile app after the study concludes, the app will remain active on their mobile device so they can continue using it with their Companion.
