SMS appointment reminders get language boost
A GP practice in south London which is using text messaging to send out appointment reminders to its patients will soon start sending out SMSs in separate languages. The Patient Care Messaging system, supplied by iPlato and running from the practice’s EMIS database, has been used to send out flu jab prompts to patients at risk as […]
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Ealing and Southend-on-Sea start patient txt messaging
Mobile messaging firm iPlato has announced that practices from two more primary care trusts in England have started using its Patient Care Messaging system. Integrated into the underlying practice patient administration and clinical system, iPLATO’s Patient Care Messaging service enables easy text messaging with patients around appointments and specialised clinics, helping tackle did not attend […]
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Long-term monitoring under the skin
Advances in subcutaneous sensors that will enable patients to be monitored wirelessly are reported this week by researchers in Finland. The Wireless Research Project, part of the Academy of Finland’s Future Electronic Research Programme is developing minuscule subcutaneous sensors, which can be used to monitor, for example, the function of the heart or prosthetic joints over […]
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Txtg cn help u quit cigs
Texting young smokers on their mobile phones using personalised messages, could potentially help them quit, according to research published this month. A randomised controlled trial conducted in New Zealand found 28% of young smokers in an ‘active’ texting group gave up smoking after six weeks of messaging compared with 13% in a control group that […]
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Choose and Book may get mobile txt reminders
Plans are being drawn up to introduce a national automatic appointment reminder service to cut missed appointments by patients, a problem estimated to cost the NHS up to £250 million a year. The aim is to introduce the system next year as part of Choose and Book, the late-running national electronic appointment booking service. EHI […]
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E-Health Innovation awards honour primary care
Primary care IT developments were well represented among the winners of the first E-Health Innovation Awards 2005. Projects that help diabetic patients, support and improve the allied health professions’ community services and streamline booking for GP appointments were among the winners who stepped up to receive their trophies. The awards, organised by Intellect and E-Health […]
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‘ID card’ devices to protect lone NHS staff
NHS staff working alone in the community are to be issued with mobile communication devices designed to help them call for help discreetly if they are in danger. The device chosen is the Identicom made by South Yorkshire suppliers, Connexion2. It looks like a standard ID card and can be clipped on clothing or worn […]
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IT and wireless tech aiding elderly and disabled
Two new wireless-based devices which aim to give elderly and disabled people greater independence both inside and outside their home have been developed. Manufacturers of the Tunstall Intellec system, which consists of one large-screen portable wireless console and an infrared transmitter, claim that over 2500 different functions can be controlled, such as TVs and DVD […]
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Introducing the intelligent vaccine box
A vaccines transit box that can feed back alerts when high temperatures endanger the precious cargo is expected to save money, avoid waste and prevent useless vaccines being given to patients. The Medicase reusable transit box is due to be unveiled at a meeting of the EU Information Society Technologies (IST) programme in the Netherlands in November. One version of […]
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BMA asks for clarity on care record issues
Doctors at the British Medical Association’s Annual Representative Meeting at Llandudno have demanded that the NHS Care Records System should not be fully implemented until issues over accuracy, consent and data protection are ironed out. The motion, proposed by Dr Mary Hawking from the South Bedfordshire Division, asked that “before total dependence on joint electronic patient […]
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