Leveraging our Nourish care-planning platform, Renaissance Care is proud to be pioneering the use of innovative pain assessment technology in Scotland. 

At Renaissance Care, we're passionate about providing exceptional, people-centred care. That's why we're proud to use PainChek - an innovative AI-powered tool for personalised pain profiles that goes beyond simple scores by recognising even non-visible pain. This innovative care home technology incorporates AI facial analysis as one part of a comprehensive digital assessment. Led by our expert clinical teams, this process ensures person-centred care and timely support, often facilitating evidence-driven medication reviews that can lead to the discontinuation of unnecessary medication for a gentler, more comfortable experience.

It's important to note that PainChek is a valuable aid in recognising pain; it does not replace the essential role of clinical judgement. Our care protocols ensure that relevant steps are consistently taken at every intervention to verify the effectiveness of our actions in providing comfort. The PainChek app itself does not offer medical advice, and we always consult with medical professionals when necessary. A comprehensive PainChek assessment involves looking at 42 specific descriptors across six key domains – voice, face, movement, behaviour, activity, and body – to build a thorough understanding of what an individual is experiencing.

Enhancing resident wellbeing with technology :

This technology offers significant benefits, primarily by enabling individuals who may be unable to verbalise their pain to communicate their discomfort. Secondly, it assists those who can describe their pain by offering evidence about those specific issues, supporting clinical judgment. The positive outcomes of the tool have been substantial, including a significant reduction in stress and distress behaviours due to our improved ability to identify underlying causes.

In recognition of the tools success, Renaissance Care have been working alongside Edinburgh Napier University who are conducting a study on the effectiveness of PainChek in Scottish Care services. 

 

Based on statistics from June 2024 - April 2025

  • 98.89% reduction in severe pain has been observed in our care homes within 11 months of adopting PainChek technology
  • 42 descriptors / attributes support the PainChek assessment
  • 19 Renaissance homes utilising PainChek technology
A nourish phone shows a facial analysis on painchek

Phillipa's Story

To better understand residential resident Phillipa's experience of discomfort, the team at Glencairn thoughtfully incorporated the innovative PainChek tool into her assessment. Importantly, they supported Phillipa in engaging with the technology herself, which helped maintain her independence and sense of self. This approach provided the home with a more comprehensive understanding of her pain than verbal communication alone could offer. As a result of this detailed insight, combined with the teams clinical expertise, Phillipa's GP reviewed her medication and discontinued what was no longer beneficial, leading to improved sleep and a greater overall sense of wellbeing. Glencairn's commitment to this person-centered approach not only empowered Phillipa but has also contributed to a more comfortable and engaging environment for all residents.

  • Thanks to PainChek, our team is now more proactive and responsive in identifying and addressing signs of discomfort, especially for residents who may find it difficult to verbally express their pain. Staff combine the insights from PainChek assessments with their own observations, ensuring a truly person-centred approach. Team Lead Manager, Julie
  • The PainChek tool has been instrumental for several of our residents. In cases where a resident’s medication wasn’t effectively managing their pain, GPs have been able to reassess and adjust pain medications. As a result, we've seen a noticeable improvement in wellbeing, and in turn, our resident's desire to join in with activities and day trips Nadine Garcia, Torry Care Home Manager
A nurse is completing a painchek assessment on a resident. She is standing, holding the device with the camera looking at the residents face

Sharon's Story

At Renaissance Care, our priority is providing a comfortable and safe environment where residents receive tailored support. When Sharon arrived at our Torry care home with multiple pain medications prescribed during her hospital stay, the team demonstrated this commitment by using the PainChek tool to collaborate and provide trend evidence that supported a careful review of Sharon's medication plan with her local GP. This approach enabled the team to adjust Sharon's medication to suit her evolving needs, and she now reports feeling much more comfortable and settled.

PainChek's Tailored Process

  • 1.

    A scan of the resident’s face is taken using the PainChek app on a smart device.

  • 2.

    The app analyses facial muscle movements linked to key nerve endings to detect potential pain indicators.

  • 3.

    A clinical lead then conducts a physical assessment, applying their professional clinical judgement.

  • 4.

    The PainChek results and clinical assessment are combined to generate an overall pain score

  • 6.

    This pain score can be shared with GPs to support pain management and treatment decisions.

  • 7.

    This comprehensive pain score empowers collaborative decision-making with GPs, resulting in optimised pain management strategies and treatment that supports our residents' holistic well-being

FAQ's

  • How does PainChek work?

    Aiding our teams, the easy-to-use PainChek tool non-invasively tracks and scores residents' pain through our care planning platform by combining clinical judgement with AI technology. This supports evidence-based collaboration with partners like GPs to create personalised interventions.

  • How accurate is PainChek AI?

    Studies such as those from the National Library of Medicine report that PainChek is effective in detecting pain in care home residents with over 90% accuracy. To leverage this and provide the best possible care, clinical judgement and observation are always used in conjunction with the tool, complementing its AI technology.

  • Is PainChek data secure?

    Security and data protection are hugely important to us. Aligning with these values, PainChek has achieved ISO/IEC 27001 certification, a globally recognised standard for information security management, demonstrating a commitment to robust data protection and risk management.

  • How does PainChek help staff identify non-verbal pain cues?

    PainChek uses AI-driven technology to conduct facial analysis, which supports the detection of non-verbal pain. The process also incorporates pain indicators such as body movements and vocalisations, and these insights, combined with clinical judgment, establish the pain score.

Arrange a Visit

The best way to experience the personal touch of our care homes is to come along for a free, no-commitment guided tour from one of our team. 

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