Who’s Up Next Doc?

August 22, 2001 - Where would we be if it weren’t for the family doctor? Maladies such as the flu, and even the common cold, could be life threatening illnesses rather than the inconvenience they’ve become lately. Thanks to that family doctor we can keep up on our blood pressure, our cholesterol, and all those other things that we would miss without the insight of our doctors during our annual checkups. Of course there’s one thing about going to a doctor that most of us hate, no matter how good or how bad we feel. It’s the waiting. They don’t call them waiting rooms for nothing.

One doctor has figured out a way to try and alleviate some of that waiting. Dr. Matthew has a clinic at Ashok Hospital where he does consulting in the mornings and evenings. "It’s usually very busy" he says, "and the time extends quite late into the night." In that clinic he wanted to "See how many patients are waiting and what is going on in the reception area," and he didn't want to run wires throughout the room "and damage the decor." So the XCam2 fit the bill perfectly.

Because of the amount of time involved, Dr. Matthew has to be aware of how many patients are waiting to see him. And while they’re waiting, he can also judge and evaluate how they’re holding up, so he has a firm grasp on what assistance they might need when he gets to them. But the X10 security camera also helps him plan out how much time he’s got left. "I have to see how many patients are waiting so that I can know when I can get back home to spend time with my family, especially my little daughter Grace," Dr. Matthew says.

Thanks to the XCam2, Dr. Matthew can now see how many patients are waiting outside in the lobby, and he can also see how they’re doing. "I also know how my staff are behaving," he says. It helps him know that they’re being polite to the patients, and taking care of them.

"It’s a great product," Dr. Matthew says of the XCam2, "but you will be surprised to know that I am using it in Bombay!" That’s India for those unfamiliar with their geography. "My sister-in-law sent it to me" after he ordered it online and had it shipped to her place. From there, she sent it off to him, and now he’s fully aware of what’s going on in his waiting room at all times. A realization that comforts both him and his patients.

Thanks to X10 and the XCam2, Dr. Matthew’s patients will always know that they’re more than just a number to him.

Send comments or feedback on this article to xzone@x10.com