Edward King House Opens Telehealth and Wellness Kiosk

On June 1, more than 50 people attended the grand opening of the Telehealth and Wellness Kiosk at the in Newport. The kiosk is a program of Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties' Aging in Place Initiative and is made possible through a grant from the Newport County Fund of the Rhode Island Foundation.

Michelle Duga, Executive Director of the Edward King House Senior Center, and Jean Anderson, Chief Executive Officer for VNS of Newport and Bristol Counties, welcomed the crowd and talked about the long-time relationship between VNS and the Center. VNS Special Projects Manager Susan Dugan, RN, described health benefits of the kiosk.

The kiosk allows seniors to check and record their blood pressure, weight, and heart rate. As healthcare providers increasingly encourage people to manage their health conditions, knowing one’s own vital signs is an important factor. Some people who think they are healthy may discover that they have a medical condition with no noticeable symptoms, such as high blood pressure.

Three features of the kiosk make it unique in this area. First is the quality of the equipment: the telehealth monitor is “hospital grade” and is among the most accurate machines. Also, each user’s vital signs are transmitted securely via wireless connection to registered nurses at VNS of Newport and Bristol Counties who monitor and track the information. Through the follow-up provided by VNS telehealth nurses and charting a senior’s vital signs, nurses can detect changes which may indicate a medical problem. Nurses will call the person and recommend that he or she contact their doctor.

Using the telehealth equipment is easy and quick: the entire process takes three minutes. 

Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties is an independent, non-profit organization that has provided community services promoting optimal health and quality of life for individuals and families since 1950.