If you have ever waited, and wondered and waited some more for a medical appointment, you know how frustrating it can be. And it’s especially difficult for patients who need to do so on a regular basis. But now, Sunnybrook has come up with a charming solution.
Chemotherapy patients at Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre are being given special cards, similar in appearance to a bank card. It’s secured with a PIN number, and triggers an instant reaction when patients swipe in at the welcome kiosk. Like a doorbell alerts homeowners to the arrival of guests, that one swipe instantly notifies staff behind the scenes so they can prepare medications and the patient’s room for treatment. Best of all, patients are kept in the loop on every step thanks to real-time updates displayed on a monitor in the waiting room (picture the flight status monitors at the airport). Only the patient knows their number and the corresponding information that goes with it.
The hope with this new system, called CHARM, is to give patients information and some control. They can step away for a coffee or make that phone call without worrying about missing their treatment. And there is no longer a need to continuously ask staff about the status of their appointment. Cancer treatment in itself can be difficult and stressful. CHARM helps make that a little bit easier.
I must agree I’m a chemo patient at the odette cancer center and I find that system to work great for me and allows me to help some friends I have met there who have trouble hearing and seeing I no there numbers so I can tell them what there status is and when there room is ready. Great system its at the top with my chart for me.