They’re not that prevalent in the Northeast where I live, but self-service health kiosks are becoming ubiquitous just about everywhere else.
The kiosks often seen in supermarket pharmacies are becoming comprehensive health and wellness screening stations, according to a story by Eric Wicklund, and it’s happening because of a company named SoloHealth, he wrote, that the company has more than 300 such kiosks in high-retail-traffic locations around the country. That number will only go up next year.
"We're placing these where people are," as Bart Foster, the company's CEO and co-founder, told Wicklund. Foster said that each kiosk helps between 40 to 150 people a day. SoloHealth received a three-year $1.2 million grant from the National Institute of Health to upgrade from its original kiosk, an eye-screening station.
The kiosks can do everything from take your blood pressure, to measure weight and body mass, to check your symptoms and provide an overall health assessment. There’s also a pain management module, Wicklund noted. In addition, the kiosk's touch screen interface can be used to locate nearby healthcare providers and schedule an appointment.
Features in the future might include assessments for common colds, nutritional supplements and vitamins and possibly a link to the user's personal health record or electronic medical record, Wicklund noted.
SoloHealth has been having some good months. In March, Coinstar, the developer of the Redbox video rental kiosks, invested in the company, and a month later, the company's kiosk received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be classified as a class two medical device.
Just two weeks ago, SoloHealth struck a deal with WellPoint, Inc., one of the nation's largest health benefits companies, to ensure that SoloHealth Station will soon be seen in a number of new locations.
Now some experts are saying kiosks could fundamentally change the way we get our healthcare, according to Sam Evans-Brown. A pilot project in New Hampshire is trying to ramp up the number of potential bone marrow donors by offering a cheek-swab kit (for your DNA) sent through the mail and the way to register for a drive.
Deanna Pogorelc revealed this month that SoloHealth has received $12 million in funding from 40 investors.
Edited by
Jamie Epstein
