Telehealth Solutions has today launched the CardioPod, a system to facilitate the new NHS Health Check nationwide. The CardioPod will be installed in pharmacies and GP surgeries across England, allowing patients easy access to an NHS Health Check carried out by a trained professional, who will give expert advice on their cardiovascular risk score and what action they can take to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes and kidney disease.
The NHS Health Check programme, which launched on 1 April 2009 in England, is for adults aged 40 - 74 and aims to identify vulnerability to vascular diseases, which affect more than 4 million people in England. It is estimated that screening patients with the NHS Health Check will prevent at least 9500 heart attacks and strokes per year, 2000 deaths per year and will prevent at least 4000 people developing diabetes.
Jeremy Cummin, Executive Chairman of Telehealth Solutions states:
"Our new CardioPod offers patients a simple but in-depth health check under the supervision of a professional with immediate results, feedback and advice provided. Tests results, which previously would have needed time to be processed externally by laboratories, are now completed by the CardioPod at the point of care over the course of the check, ensuring patients receive instant, personal guidance from the professional on how they can reduce their cardiovascular risk level. Our aim is to carry out the Health Check as easily, effectively and as efficiently as possible and our telehealth system ensures both the patient and the people managing the patient's care are immediately fully informed of the test results and advised course of action."
As a standalone unit, the CardioPod comes with scales and sphygmomanometer to capture basic vital signs information. A Cholestech LDX blood chemistry analyser is available as an option to add a lipid profile and blood glucose measurement in less than five minutes.