Want to take greater control over your health?
To give you more quality face-to-face time with your doctor, and to help you avoid appointment times which may not be convenient, we are delighted to have invested in innovative technology called SurgeryPod - which you can find in our waiting area, near reception.
This newly-installed equipment gives you greater control and flexibility over your health as well as allowing our medical staff to use their expertise more efficiently. Here are our answers to some key questions.
1) What is a SurgeryPod?
SurgeryPod is a secure computer system which accurately records your patient data and takes readings, such as weight and blood pressure measurements.
It is not a replacement for your doctor or nurse but an additional resource for our Practice to give you the most appropriate attention when you need it – and sometimes faster than we could before.
2) Why do we have it?
We want to give you greater freedom and the opportunity to monitor your health without having to wait after booking an appointment.
3) What are the benefits to me as a patient?
SurgeryPod enables you - without clinical supervision - to perform your own checks such as blood pressure, weight, pulse and alcohol usage, and your information is then instantaneously – and securely updated into your records and can be immediately viewed by the doctors and nurses.
You can perform these simple checks at your own convenience, without making an appointment during our opening hours. This means that when you start your face-to-face consultation, your doctor will already have this key information giving you more time to discuss your health.
You no longer need to arrange appointments or attend at inconvenient times for simple checks. These can now be done when it suits you. For example, you may wish to do your blood pressure before you see the doctor or nurse or you can come in any time to use it.
4) What can you do on the SurgeryPod?
- Take your blood pressure
- Take your weight and calculate your BMI
- Enter information regarding your lifestyle such as smoking, alcohol, exercise and diet
- Carry out a series of stress and anxiety questionnaires.
5) How does it work?
You simply interact with a touchscreen computer to guide you through the process. After you enter your name and date of birth you follow the easy step-by-step instructions. Here is the typical process you will go through before your GP appointment:
- Enter your name and date of birth
- Select ‘Standard Checks’
- Follow the onscreen instructions
After you complete the session your results are automatically saved on your patient records.
6) Who can use it?
Every patient. You don’t have to use SurgeryPod - but regardless of your technical knowledge, you will easily be able to use it and it will allow us to keep better track of your latest readings.
If you do have any difficulty, a member of the reception team would be happy to help you – but please be patient if they are on the phone or talking to other patients. Thank you.
News Release: SurgeryPod helps patients to take greater control over their health
GP practices across south east Hampshire have a new resource in their efforts to improve their services to patients – a SurgeryPod.
Most GP practices in Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Waterlooville, Petersfield and the east Hampshire areas have the innovative technology up-and-running as part of a £390,000 investment over five years. Others are due to go live in the next few weeks.
SurgeryPod is an easy-to-use secure computer system which accurately records patient data and takes readings, such as weight and blood pressure measurements.
SurgeryPods enable patients - without clinical supervision or having to make an appointment - to perform their own checks such as blood pressure, weight, pulse and alcohol usage, and their information is then instantaneously and securely updated into their medical records and can be immediately viewed by doctors and nurses.
This means that when they start their face-to-face consultation, the patient’s doctor will already have this key information giving them more time to discuss your health.
People use the touch-screen instructions in 19 languages to log on and are guided through the process to record their information one step at a time.
Dr Zaid Hirmiz, a GP at Horndean who is Clinical Director (South East Hampshire) for NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “SurgeryPods will give patients more quality face-to-face time with their doctor, which is one of the main things we regularly hear that our patients want.
“It also helps people avoid appointment times which may not be convenient to them. They can simply pop into their own surgery during any of its usual opening times.
“SurgeryPods are not a replacement for your doctor or nurse but an additional resource for our GP practices to give you the most appropriate attention when you need it – and sometimes faster than we could before.”
“If you do have any difficulty, a member of the reception team would be happy to help you.”
You can view a short video clip on the benefits of the SurgeryPod here: https://youtu.be/c5LQLH20xQw