NEWS - Health & Hospitals

SBJ Staff Report

Nov 29, 2011 - Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and St. Joseph’s/Candler have launched a new major enhancement to GPA's employee wellness program, using the hospital system’s new Smart Health Express computerized medical kiosk technology.

The kiosk will give employees the opportunity to measure or research nearly every aspect of their health from a convenient on-site location.

“Keeping a close watch on your health is key to a long life and St. Joseph’s/Candler is proud to offer this unique technology to our partners at the Georgia Ports Authority,” said Paul P. Hinchey, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s/Candler. “This tool not only makes it more convenient to monitor your health, but can give your doctor great data to manage your health.”  St. Joseph's/Candler has managed GPA's employee wellness program since 1995.

This is the first Smart Health Express installed in the region. It consists of a curtained booth in which workers can track details such as weight, body mass index, blood pressure and other health indicators. The booth also offers direct telephone communication to health professionals who can answer questions.

GPA employees will be able to print out reports, as well as electronically share information with their personal physicians. In addition, the kiosk features educational videos on a range of health topics.

“This high-tech kiosk is the latest step in our ongoing efforts to promote health and wellness at GPA,” said Curtis J. Foltz, GPA executive director. “This new offering empowers our workers to take proactive steps in a convenient setting to guard their own health.”

“Our goal is to reduce costs for everyone, encourage healthy lifestyles, seek preventive care, and to promote health and wellness through prevention and intervention,” said Lise Marshall, GPA senior director of Human Resources.

St. Joseph’s/Candler has been the Georgia Ports Authority’s managed care provider since 1995. The arrangement provides port employees access to healthcare from the hospital level to physician appointments to ancillary health care services.

Recently, St. Joseph’s/Candler opened an onsite clinic with a nurse practitioner that facilitates the Ports’ Waterfront Wellness program. The program manages chronic health conditions and administers general health and wellness programs, onsite smoking cessation classes and onsite fitness classes.

Employees can use the Smart Health Express to be more proactive in their health care by:

• Measuring blood pressure and heart rate with medically certified, accurate equipment.

• Using the built-in seat weight scale

• Calculating Body Mass Index

• Taking temperature

• Taking Health Risk Appraisal and document Personal Health History

• Developing and maintaining a medication list

• Creating, storing and sending a Personal Health Record to health care providers.

• Viewing a health video library and read educational and health management tools that can be printed

• Calling the on-site SJ/C nurse practitioner or a registered pharmacist at the Candler Prescription Center.

• Calling the registered nurses at SJC Care Call Center for health information, and referrals to health providers and community resources

• Accessing health library of diseases and conditions, body guide, explanation of medical tests and a health-related calendar of events.

• In a few weeks, ports employees will have access to ProChange, a unique, evidence-based lifestyle management coaching program. The program includes targeted education, coaching and messaging based on an individual's lifestyle habits, priorities for health improvement, and his/her specific stage of readiness to change.

Privacy Concerns

Securing and keeping patient health information is the top priority for St. Joseph’s/Candler, according to Hinchy. The kiosk provides multiple features to protect patient privacy. Individual health records can only be accessed with an employee badge, a personal identification number or a thumbprint. Additionally, an electronic drape encloses the employee so no one else can see the computer screen.