Patient comes up with clever waiting room business

October 2003: Health entrepreneur Gabriella Larkin has turned her experience of the waiting room into a business, disseminating health information to patients while they wait to see their doctor.

Ms Larkin is the producer of MedTV, which is screening in 68 waiting rooms from Northland as far south as Taranaki.

A former cancer patient, Ms Larkin says the idea for MedTV came out of her experiences in doctors' and hospital waiting rooms while she was receiving treatment.

She says it includes a mixture of editorial features on public health issues and advertorials for health-related products.

"It is a one-hour loop tape presented in a magazine-style delivering information based on the public health strategy," she says.

Each month looks at a new health issue from diabetes to asthma, examining their causes, symptoms and treatments.

"You can't underestimate the value of health education. Whether you're suffering from an injury or illness, or are close to someone who is, you develop a real hunger for knowledge, you suddenly want to know everything the doctors can tell you and often there just isn't the time," Ms Larkin says.

While the programme was initially restricted ot the Northland and Auckland regions, Ms Larkin has been working to roll it out nationally.

The programme is free to clinics, as it is paid for by advertising and sponsorship.

"All GPs need is an old TV and a video," Ms Larkin syas. Check it out at www.medtv.co.nz

GM (Greg Meylon) for

New Zealand Doctor October 2003