TECHNOLOGY
NUTRITION SOFTWARE FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS In an age where everything seems to be run by technology and as a profession which sometimes is seen as being left in the dark ages, perhaps it’s time we should be embracing new software, apps and online consultations. There is some interesting software out there, useful to dietitians and nutrition professionals, all of which is worth taking a look. Here, I’ve compiled some software that I and other nutrition professionals find useful in different situations. PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
With the advent of GDPR, all client notes and emails need to be kept secure. There are a few options. If you don’t see a lot of patients then you probably don’t want to pay monthly for a software system. However, these platforms can be useful for storing all patient data, emails and appointment times securely. Whilst you can use something like Dropbox or G Suite for business, these can be cumbersome and do not allow for booking appointments or taking payments. Systems such HealthKit, Nutrium, Healthie and Oviva are well worth trialling. I like having templates for consultations already designed for me and being able to log in and find all information for all my patients in one place without opening a dozen files. HealthKit is free and allows you to give the patient a login to view data, or you can email them through the software. There are templates for letters and the ability to use video call software too; you can also book appointments and take payment. I use this system myself but have not tried out the video software part.
Priya Tew Freelance Dietitian
Nutrium is fairly new to the market and appears to be ever expanding its functionality, but there is a monthly payment starting at £24/month. This includes the ability to make meal plans, analyse food diaries and has a mobile app for the client to use. Healthie is another with a mobile app, billing, calendar and file storage for about the same price for the first five patients. Having an online diary system that you can view on the go and that patients can also view and book themselves into, can be a real timesaver. Gone are the back and forth emails, so, personally, I find using these systems saves me time and lowers my stress levels! Acuity is a good one for automatically taking bookings, payments, syncing with your other diaries to make sure there are no clashes. There are form integrations so you can gather information prior to meeting a patient and carry out initial screening. Other alternatives include vCita, SimplyBook.me and Timely. It is worth checking any system that will integrate into your website. More of us are moving towards working with some patients on a remote basis, via video calls. Again, it is important to make sure that any software you use is secure. Zoom allows you to set up a meeting with an ID code so that only the person with the code can log in. Other options are Skype for Business and Go to Meeting.
Priya runs Dietitian UK. She works with private clients and has a wide ranging portfolio of projects including the food industry, the media and writing articles.
www.NHDmag.com June/July 2019 - Issue 145
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