10.07.11
Online health checkers win award
NHS Direct’s online health and symptom checkers have been recognised with an award for improving patient care. The tools provide patients with better choice and increased access to healthcare.
The award, Excellence in Major Healthcare IT Development, was given for successful collaboration with the software providers InferMEd to develop a major IT project to access health advice and information online.
The tools cover a wide range of problems, including flu, abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting and dental pain. The website also provides advice on specific issues such as mental health, contraception, sexual health and pregnancy.
Tricia Hamilton, chief nurse at NHS Direct, said: “We are thrilled that our online health and symptom checkers have been recognised for their contribution to improved patient care. The tools use innovative IT technology to provide an easy to use platform, which hosts evidence-based content that has been developed by our highly skilled clinical team. We have very high satisfaction levels among patients who use the tools and they are highly thought of by other NHS organisations.”
NHS Direct launched a mobile app for the service at the end of May 2011, which has been used 900,000 times. The online health and symptom checkers are used on the web around 20,000 times a day.
The health and symptom checkers work by asking the user a series of questions.
Depending on the information provided, users may be offered self-care advice so that they can manage their symptoms at home, or it may suggest that further advice is sought from another health provider. A call back from an NHS Direct nurse advisor is only a click away if a further assessment is recommended.
For more information visit www.nhs.uk/nhsdirect
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