Michigan health centers add touchscreen cancer info kiosks
March 15, 2009
ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Two Michigan-based cancer centers operated by Beaumont Hospital will deploy touchscreen kiosks to disseminate information about cancer and related hospital services, according to a news release.
Visitors of the centers, which are located in the cities of Royal Oak and Troy, will also be able to use the kiosks during regular business hours to schedule appointments with doctors. If requests for appointments are made at the kiosk after business hours, the kiosk will add the user's name and contact information to a log so a Beaumont representative can call them.
"If there's one thing I've learned from my patients through the years, it's that they crave information," said Frank Vincini, M.D., chief of Oncology Services for Beaumont Hospitals. "This is a well-researched, credible source for that information."
The American Cancer Society provides much of the regularly updated kiosk content, which includes information about 40 kinds of cancer in both English and Spanish. Recently, 23 short video segments co-produced with Discovery Health Channel were added to the kiosk.
The kiosk can also refer users to the Beaumont hospital Web site, where they can review information on topics such as the Comprehensive Breast Care centers, radiation oncology, cancer genetics, clinical trials and support groups.
The kiosks are part of a joint venture between the American Cancer Society and St. Andrew Development Inc. They're funded by the Freeman Wilner Foundation.