Visitors to Bradford Regional Medical Center are now able to
access a wealth of women’s health information with the touch of a
finger.
The hospital is now host to a free-standing, interactive health
information kiosk for women. The touch-screen machine will remain
in BRMC’s Outpatient Services lobby at the North Bennett Street
entrance as long as the program that brought it there remains in
place.
“We felt we should put it in a place where the most individuals
would go by it,” Dr. Youmasu Siewe, director of the state Center
for Rural Health Practice, said Thursday.
The kiosk addresses 19 issues that pertain to women, including
diabetes, smoking cessation, sexually transmitted diseases, the top
six cancer killers in women, heart disease, stroke and more. There
are also tips on how to acquire free or affordable health
insurance.
The kiosk is free and available to the public. It’s designed so
women can access the information they need in three to five
minutes, according to a business development director for the
company that makes the machines.
“It puts extremely critical health information into the
community, which otherwise may not have access to that
information,” said Valerie Del Grosso of York-based St. Andrew
Development.
McKean County has a high number of senior citizens, one
population sect that may not have computer access to important
health care data, Del Grosso explained.
“There’s a lot more than we think,” Debbie Price, BRMC senior
vice president of patient care services, said of those who lack
computer skills. The machine also accommodates those who speak
Spanish or who are visually impaired.
Del Grosso learned of Bradford’s need for such a machine when
she met with Sherie Wallace of the University of Pittsburgh’s
Center for Rural Health Practice.
“Sherie shared information on the lack of access to health
education (in the area),” Del Grosso said.
Wallace supplied Del Grosso with rates for obesity, depression,
domestic violence in the region that surrounds the hospital.
“I’m always looking for people … who are in need of health
education,” Del Grosso said.
From there, Leslie Stiles, executive director of the
Pennsylvania Commission for Women, “gifted” the program to McKean
County, according to Del Grosso. The commission has provided a
dozen kiosks – for free, thanks to funding by Highmark – to
targeted locations across Pennsylvania.
Finally, Wellness Coordinator Mariann Kahle was the contact to
get one of the kiosks into BRMC. She’ll be monitoring the
machine.
Those who were instrumental in bringing the kiosk in are also
encouraging men to use it for the ladies in their lives.
“People may not realize this, but women make the majority of
decisions in health care – for men and women,” Price said.
