The Patient Channel Helps Patients, Families Better Understand Health Issues
7/1/04

Mendocino Coast District Hospital is proud to announce a new service beginning on July 1 for its patients and their families: The Patient Channel, providing high quality health education television programming around the clock in all patient rooms and hospital waiting areas.

The Patient Channel is dedicated to increasing patients’ understanding of specific health care conditions, their treatment and future expectations regarding their condition and healing process. The programming is intended to provide the health information basics that patients need to manage their illness, and to encourage questions and informed communication with health care providers.

“Programming on the channel empowers patients to take a more active role in their own care, “ said Dave Ross, manager of The Patient Channel for GE Medical Systems. “Real patients and their doctors share their stories to help others understand not just the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of a medical condition, but also ‘how’ they can deal with it in a positive manner.”

Programming on The Patient Channel covers a wide spectrum of topics including cancer, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, smoking cessation, parenting, health/wellness, and other healthcare topics. New programs are added throughout the year.

MCDH nursing staff can use the channel’s content as reinforcement for patient education. "This new Patient Channel is an excellent resource for both patients and nurses. Patients can have relevant programming 'prescribed' for them to watch, and nurses can follow up with discussion and further patient education," says Deb Silva, Director of Obstetrical Services.

“It’s a way that MCDH, as the community’s hospital, can provide patients and their families with more health education. By doing this, we can better fulfill our mission to improve the health of the community,” says Bryan Ballard, CEO.

The Patient Channel is available to MCDH at no cost to MCDH or its patients as part of an equipment lease agreement with GE Medical Systems. GE Medical Systems developed the satellite channel in 2002, and provides its broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to U.S. hospitals. The Patient Channel is now the largest in-room hospital education network in the U.S., providing 39 programs to 1,060 sites.

The educational content on The Patient Channel is controlled by independent advisory boards, consisting of experts in medicine, patient care, education and ethics, whose objective is to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of programming. While the TV channel is distributed by GE Medical Systems, the boards review all content prior to airing and identify new opportunities for topics that are contemporary and of high interest to the general public.