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Virtual chaperone enhances patient records
18 July 2003
Patients at Bupa Hospital Cambridge Lea are amongst the first in the UK to trial a 'virtual chaperone' system during consultations and examinations. The 'virtual chaperone' can oversee almost every aspect of a patient's consultation or treatment using unmanned cameras and audio equipment to produce a record of the patient's care.
Recent studies have shown that patients are able to recall an average of only a quarter of the information discussed at their consultation. While patients can always refer to the nurse present after their consultations for this information, the added benefit of the 'virtual chaperone' system is that it allows them to take home an audio tape recording of what took place.
Eighty-eight percent of patients who took part in a trial of the system at Bupa Hospital Cambridge Lea said they were comfortable having their consultation recorded. General manager, Charlotte Espie, commented: "A 'virtual chaperone' is clearly a plus for the majority of patients. Most see it as a trusted extra pair of eyes and ears overseeing their consultation that helps both them and the doctor feel protected.
"However, we would never force people to have the 'virtual chaperone', a human one is always made available if the patient prefers. The encrypted video and audio tapes are then stored by the hospital and can be accessed should the need should arise."
Bupa group medical director Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen said: "This is very much about listening to and learning from our customers". The results of this study and the financial implications are now being evaluated before a decision is made on whether to introduce the system permanently into all Bupa hospitals.
The equipment has been developed by a subsidiary of the Imperial College School of Medicine at St Mary's Hospital in London, with sponsorship from the Bupa Foundation. The Foundation is Bupa's own charity and supports medical research.
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