09 June 2020
As our members rapidly change their ways of working in response to the pandemic, we’re helping by developing accessible, user-friendly ways of presenting important clinical content.
You can now access our COVID-19 guidance through our new chatbot COVA, a button-based information tool developed in partnership with Versus Arthritis, designed to help you find the information you require quickly and easily.
Our Chief Executive Ali Rivett said: “Improving accessibility has been a priority for us as our guidance has evolved into such a widely-used and detailed resource. I’m delighted that we’ve partnered with Versus Arthritis to deliver such an innovative solution to continue supporting our community through COVID-19.”
Dr Lizzy Macphie, who leads our guidance group, said: “I’m very aware of how much clinicians have valued BSR's COVID-19 guidance; we need to ensure that clinicians can continue to access the advice they need quickly. Embracing new ways of working has been crucial over the last few months, and I'm very pleased that BSR is exploring new technology to support its members.”
Head of Digital at Versus Arthritis Karina Brisby said: “This partnership with BSR has extended the function of our unique chatbot COVA, which since its launch in April has already provided accurate arthritis-specific COVID-19 advice to 3,000 people.
“Now its new cousin BSR-COVA will be a vital digital tool for healthcare professionals, providing up-to-date clinical information on COVID-19 in a highly accessible and mobile form. It will be invaluable in ensuring that people with arthritis continue to get the best help and support they need from healthcare professionals during these challenging times.”
How to use the chatbot
Simply select the chat icon at the bottom right corner of every page of our website and use the buttons to travel in a focused way to the information you're looking for. You can ‘start again’ at any point, or scroll up to access different areas of content.
Why a chatbot?
Our guidance on COVID-19 and rheumatology covers many disparate topics, so we wanted to find a solution that made it easier for clinicians to navigate. We worked on COVA with Versus Arthritis, who originally developed a patient-focused version of the bot, which draws from our guidance.