Category: 3.3. Electronic display systems
Fernley Medical Centre in Sparkhill, Birmingham, found that its 6,500 registered patients, particularly the hard-of-hearing, would often struggle to hear their names being called out for appointments in a busy waiting room.
The practice also wanted a more efficient way of communicating health information, promoting health campaigns and advertising specific clinics.
The practice installed Envisage, an advanced visual information system, in January 2007 under a pilot scheme and hasn’t looked back. Envisage, manufactured by Egton and Numed, combines a patient calling system and an information service using modern LCD screens. Fernley installed two 32-inch screens, one at each end of its waiting room.
Doctors now call patients directly by pressing a button on their computers in their consulting rooms. The patient’s name flashes up on the screens in the waiting room, along with the consulting room number. The message is repeated within a few seconds in case the patient misses it.
‘Patients can see their names clearly,’ says Practice Manager Nora Grosvenor. ‘Deaf patients have benefited the most, as they no longer feel singled out – we used to have to go over and speak to them.’
Envisage comes with a media pack containing a selection of health messages that the practice can choose to broadcast. These range from smoking warnings and 5-A-DAY promotional adverts to messages about flu jabs and child vaccination campaigns. Practices can tailor these to their needs. They can also create their own messages using HTML, jpeg images or Microsoft PowerPoint slides.
In addition, the screens can display practical information about the surgery.
‘When we extended our notice hours we could immediately let the patients know via the screens. We can also feed back our patients’ survey results or if someone is blocking the doctors’ car park in an emergency, we can put an urgent message on the screen,’ explains Nora.
Envisage produces media pack updates every two months, ensuring practices have a fresh assortment of the latest national health topics and promotions.
Nora Grosvenor, 0844 815 1135
nora.grosvenor@hobtpct.nhs.uk
