Accurx vs. Anima: A Comprehensive Comparison for Primary Care Teams
The demand for digital solutions in primary care has never been greater, nor have finances ever been lower - making for an interesting primary care environment.
As practices strive to streamline patient communications and enhance operational efficiency. Among the most recognized tools in the UK healthcare space are Accurx - a long time messaging incumbent - and Anima - a well backed triage start-up.
While both platforms aim to optimize workflows, their features, usability, and costs differ significantly. This guide compares the two platforms to help healthcare professionals choose the best fit for their practice, and introduces Hero Health - a simple and cost-effective alternative.
Accurx vs. Anima: An Overview
What is Accurx?
Accurx is a communication-focused platform designed to enhance collaboration between healthcare providers and their patients. Its broad suite of tools covers:
- Two-way messaging for patient communication.
- Online triage to streamline request management.
- Appointment scheduling via self-booking links with appointment reminders.
- Remote consultations, including video and monitoring tools.
Accurx is widely used across primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings due to its flexibility and NHS system integrations.
What is Anima?
Anima positions itself as a "care enablement" platform, focusing on automating workflows for patient management in primary care. It features:
- Online consultations where patients can submit requests digitally.
- Automated patient history collection to speed up clinical assessments.
- Integrated team dashboards for real-time communication.
Anima emphasizes efficiency through automation but comes with a steeper learning curve for both patients and practice staff.
Comparing Functionality
1. Communication Tools
- Accurx: Excels in two-way messaging, including options for secure file sharing and batch messaging for campaigns like flu reminders. It’s designed for intuitive use, even for tech-averse patients. The product comes with integrated questionnaires, and for an additional fee, these can be edited.
- Anima: Offers a collaborative dashboard that integrates requests and messages in one place. However, based on feedback we've heard, some patients may find the platform challenging due to its technical complexity.
2. Triage and Workflow Management
- Accurx: Features an accessible triage system with patient-facing forms. Its self-booking and video consultation features ensure seamless patient interaction.
- Anima: Utilizes an intelligent triage system that collects patient data and suggests next steps. Unlike Accurx, Anima prioritises patient requests automatically - although it is not yet registered as a medical device, the platform is more aligned with other medical device solutions such as eConsult.
3. Integration and Data Compliance
- Accurx: Fully integrates with NHS systems, ensuring that all communications are securely stored and coded into clinical records. This guarantees compliance and simplifies administrative tasks.
- Anima: Also integrates with NHS systems but is a newer product, is perhaps less deeply integrated. That said, it does pull clinical records into the product via GP Connect - which Accurx doesn't do - giving richer augmentation to submissions
Pricing Structures
Being blunt, you're not picking Accurx or Anima for their cost efficiency. Both are heavily backed by venture capital firms, and both will therefore have high expectations to deliver a return. If you're looking for a most cost effective solution, then Hero Health could be a better option.
Accurx Pricing
Accurx operates on a modular pricing model, with costs determined by the size of the practice’s patient list and the specific features selected.
- Strengths: Flexibility in choosing features ensures practices pay for only what they need.
- Weaknesses: Total costs can exceed £1 per patient annually when combining features like self-booking and batch messaging, potentially stretching smaller budgets. Individual modules like self-booking, can exceed 25p per patient.
Anima Pricing
Anima offers a simpler pricing structure based on the number of patients registered with the practice.
- Strengths: Transparent pricing and no hidden fees make budgeting straightforward.
- Weaknesses: Costs can approach 80p per patient annually, which may feel steep for larger practices, especially if uptake among patients is low due to usability challenges.
Key Challenges for Practices
1. Budget Constraints
Both platforms require significant financial investment, which can be challenging for smaller practices or those with limited resources.
- Accurx: High overall costs due to its modular structure.
- Anima: Although slightly cheaper, its value depends on how effectively the system is utilized.
2. Usability for Patients and Staff
- Accurx: User-friendly design ensures easier adoption, even for patients less familiar with digital tools.
- Anima: Advanced features may overwhelm some patients and staff, resulting in underutilization.
An Alternative Solution: Hero Health
For practices seeking a cost-effective, flexible, and user-friendly platform, Hero Health offers a compelling alternative to Accurx and Anima. Its features include:
- Effortless messaging: Simplified two-way communication with patients, including questionnaires, self-booking links and attachments
- Streamlined appointment booking: An intuitive system that improves scheduling efficiency.
- Care navigation and triage: Configurable digital pathways that guide patients to the most appropriate care.
- Batch messaging: Effective for managing outreach campaigns, such as vaccinations.
Hero Health stands out for its affordability (45p per patient), with pricing well below that of both Accurx and Anima, and its focus on enhancing patient access without sacrificing ease of use.
