Scope of interactive kiosks continues to evolve

As health-related kiosks continue to gain consumer acceptance, suppliers and retailers are exploring ways of incorporating more of these devices into pharmacy offerings.

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Diagnostic kiosks are no longer limited to just a blood-pressure machine in the pharmacy area. As pharmacies become frontline healthcare providers, more are offering patients interactive devices that monitor a wide range of health-related factors, including vision, weight, body mass index, pulse and blood pressure.



The advanced technology behind the newest breed of kiosks allows them to be used as a patient’s personal healthcare library, securely storing data in a private, online account for ongoing reference and progress comparison. Others give users access to a database of local physicians.



Kiosks also are gaining validity from ongoing research and from manufacturers allying with healthcare providers.



Last fall, for example, the Journal of the American Society of Hypertension published the results of a study showing that the blood-pressure measurements of hypertensive adults who used PharmaSmart kiosks in community pharmacies were similar to those taken by ambulatory and automated office methods.



Meanwhile, kiosk-maker Pursuant Health (formerly SoloHealth) recently began using research from Cleveland Clinic Wellness Enterprise to develop a health-and-wellness platform delivered through its kiosks, mobile access points and online.



Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Miraculins recently released the results of a pilot program for its Scout DS diabetes screening kiosk. Partnering with the Canadian chain Lovell Drugs and Pear Healthcare Solutions, the 16-day trial used interactive kiosks to screen patients for prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes, identifying 41% of the more than 350 people screened as being at elevated risk for the conditions.