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Radiation Oncology Goes Online At Waikato
Media information
For immediate release
Date: 9 June 2009
Radiation Oncology Goes Online At Waikato
Waikato's radiation oncology patients know exactly what they're in for before they get to Waikato Hospital thanks to a doctor's initiative to use online videos.
Waikato Regional Cancer Centre's radiation oncology service treats about 2000 patients every year so its new videos, which show patients exactly what to expect when they come up for an appointment, will be well worthwhile.
Waikato is the only regional cancer centre in New Zealand that allows patients a visual tour on the Waikato DHB website of how to find the hospital, where to park and then how to get to the centre. The idea came from the centre's clinical unit leader Leanne Tyrie and was actioned by radiotherapist Michael Taylor.
However, it is once you get inside the clinic that the video footage becomes handy, especially if you're an apprehensive first-timer.
Once logged into www.waikatodhb.govt.nz patients meet the staff who will look after them, watch descriptions of key radiation oncology procedures, a new appointment simulation, the making of radiation oncology masks and the treatment process.
"While this is currently limited to radiation oncology, I would like to see the entire Waikato Regional Cancer Centre go online," said Dr Tyrie, who suggested the idea to her senior medical staff at a planning day a year ago.
"They were very open to the idea and since then we have been utilising our own resources within the centre as well as the wider organisation to get this happening for our patients."
Waikato DHB's Visual Communications (Viscom) medical photographers Sunil Bange filmed and edited the coverage in-house and with the help of webmaster Marianne Toms this went live just days ago.
Dr Tyrie said patients were often scared of the unknown so to be able to see what was going to happen before they got to their appointment was incredibly helpful.
She said other benefits to patients included:
* the ability to access
the information in their own time; go away and come back to
it at their leisure
* they can share the information
with families and friends for their peace of mind;
and
* it is a visually appealing way of sharing
information and education.
Dr Tyrie said she recognised not everyone had access to the internet, which was why all written and verbal information would remain, but said it was another option available.
"I hope this site is not only useful to patients, but other health professionals such as GPs and district nurses to help them gain a better understanding of what happens when their patients come to us," she said.
"It will also be a useful resource to demonstrate our unit to prospective students attending study days and wishing to pursue a career in radiation oncology.
"In the months ahead we'll audit the site traffic and ask patients what they would like to see on there to ensure the videos are as helpful as we believe them to be."
The radiation oncology videos, can be found at http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/radiationtherapy and viewed by people who have an Adobe Flash Player on their PCs.
However, DVDs of the same clips are also available to patients free of charge.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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