Radlett's Red House Group Embraces Telehealth Technology
Telehealth technology has brought a slice of 21st century healthcare to patients at a surgery group in Radlett.
Three Red House Group’s three surgeries have installed Telehealth Solutions SurgeryPod and Check In Pods to help improve accessibility.
Patients can use the SurgeryPod to answer a questionnaire in the waiting room before entering the doctor’s surgery, which the GP more time to discuss the patients problems and concerns.
Practice manager Ken Spooner explained: “For patients, in terms of access, these machines are a great addition.
“They are particularly useful in improving access for patients and doctors. For example, women using the contraceptive pills who have to come in for regular blood pressure checks can use the Surgery POD to take their blood pressure and if all is well get their prescription almost immediately.
“The SurgeryPod also helps GPs and nurses with their workload because they can ask patients to go to the pod before their appointment and answer all the standard health questions such as smoking status, alcohol intake and weight giving the doctor or nurse more time to discuss and review the patients needs.”
Ken explained that not all patients accepted the new technology immediately but now recognise the benefits of the Surgery POD and the new patient calling system bring to the surgery.
“At Red House we see this technology as part of a range of options, including our own website, that helps improve surgery accessibility in its widest sense.”
The Manor Pharmacy Group, which has a branch in Radlett, has also taken on the Telehealth Solutions technology by introducing the innovative CardioPod. The portable machine allows people to pop in for a 20 minute cardiovascular check, under professional supervision of a pharmacist. The pod calculates their risk of having a heart attack within the next decade and the pharmacist is on hand to advise
Should any risks be detected, these are illustrated by frowning faces in a sea of smiling faces, so the results are exceptionally easy to understand. The patients are then given the printed results to keep or hand into their GP for further action.
Graham Phillips, owner of Herts-based Manor Pharmacy Group, commented: “Following discussions with the surgery, we had the CardioPod installed at Radlett thereby increasing access to healthcare for our patients. Our long opening hours and convenient location means we can reach hard-to-reach consumers. With patients’ agreement we can share the test results with their GP. Irrespective of the results we give healthy lifestyle advice. The response we have had from those who have used it is very favourable indeed.
“Many people have commented on the simplicity of the test and the speed with which they have their results in their hand. Working in partnership with local GPs we can offer them the chance to make vital changes to their lifestyle that may, ultimately, save their lives.”
Telehealth Solutions executive chairman Jeremy Cummin said he wads delighted the HomePod and CardioPod were proving so invaluable for both Manor and Red House.
He added: “These machines have proven their worth for patients and health professionals of both Red House group and Manor Pharmacy, as they continue to do at other sites across the UK.
“We are dedicated to improving the quality of care for patients through the innovative use of technology. Telehealth Solutions is, and always has done, pushed the boundaries of modern technology to create high-tech solutions that make life easier for everyone involved in primary healthcare.”
Posted on Tuesday, 22 December 2009