CardMedic, the winner of the Digital Health Pitchfest, has been awarded £411,000 from Innovate UK’s SMART grant programme to enhance its healthcare language application.

Project Overview

The funding will support a 12-month project from April 2025 to March 2026, aimed at scaling and integrating a portal that will improve how healthcare organizations provide language services.

Enhancements to CardMedic’s Services

• Development of an AI-enhanced end-to-end language service provision system.
• Immediate access to healthcare content for users.
• Improved speed and accessibility features for the CardMedic frontline app.
• Streamlined navigation for individuals with English as a second or third language.
• On-demand personalized interpreter services.
• Adjustable content sizes for users with visual impairments.
• Offline and device-agnostic functionality.
• Optimized landscape viewing for better understanding of diagnostics and treatment.

New Portal: CardMedic Connect

The new portal, CardMedic Connect, will enable healthcare providers to serve patients more effectively by:

• Providing access to thousands of pre-translated clinical interactions.
• Offering quicker access to real-time interpreter and language services.

AI Integration and Future Goals

The integration of AI technology is expected to enhance CardMedic’s medical communication database, creating a comprehensive resource for healthcare communication.

Tim Grimaldi, co-founder and managing director of CardMedic, stated, “This funding allows us to pursue our vision of making healthcare communication more accessible and efficient.”

Previous Funding and Future Impact

This grant follows a recent award of £499,683 from SBRI Healthcare, aimed at developing an AI-enabled language portal. The combined funding of nearly £1 million is anticipated to accelerate CardMedic’s mission to enhance healthcare communication and address health equity in both UK and US healthcare systems.

Concerns About AI in Healthcare

Despite the advancements, NHS England has expressed concerns regarding the potential risks associated with the use of AI translation apps in healthcare settings, emphasizing the need for careful implementation.