Every now and then we get a chance to test out some cutting edge medical devices. EPM editor Reece Armstrong talks about his trip to John Bell & Croyden's pharmacy in London to test out a new holistic healthcare device.
EIS
Pharmacies in many ways have been part of the old guard of healthcare services, handing out prescriptions and occasional pieces of advice to patients but failing to keep up with the digitisation of modern life.
So when I received an invitation to try out a new holistic healthcare service at the John Bell & Croyden pharmacy in London, I jumped at the chance. Not only because it would give me a (hopefully) stress-reducing snapshot of my health but also to see how this luxury pharmacy was adapting to modern times.
The pharmacy’s Nutri-Clinic is described as a bespoke personalised nutritional assessment, during which a detailed account of a person’s history of health concerns is taken by a doctor. This ‘detailed account’ is achieved using a class II medical device known as an Electro Interstitial Scan (EIS) Sensor Analyser developed by Minerva Research Labs. The machine consists of six electrodes which were placed onto my feet, hands and forehead to the measure the fluid between the cells throughout my body. The idea is that by measuring this interstitial fluid, the doctor can then perceive a person’s current vitamin, mineral and hormonal imbalances within your body.
My appointment was shorter than the usual 90-minute assessment, but I was still able to gain an insightful look into the workings of my own body.
The scan takes around three minutes, during which I was told to stay still unless the doctor had to take my readings again.
After using the EIS device, I was taken through an outlook of my health, with the doctor taking me through everything from my calcium levels, to a past trauma highlighted by my neurological functions. Knowing that the device is able to tell that a person is suffering mentally is both scary and amazing. More so, it offers another level of information to doctors, rather than them having to depend solely on a patient’s own account; something which for those less-inclined to speak up about their problems could be a big help.
Thankfully, all my body’s essential minerals were at the correct levels and my gut’s health too was optimum thanks to an alkaline pH balance. Importantly, the health information I gained during the visit was detailed enough for me to know if I needed to either make changes to my lifestyle or to follow up with a doctor for any concerns I might have.
Overall though it was an affirming experience to know that I’m a fairly healthy individual, an outcome I’ve never really gained from visiting a GP or a pharmacy prior to this.
The full Nutri-Clinic service doesn’t end with the scan like my appointment did. Customers will be taken through an entire life-style assessment, during which they will find out what kinds of foods they should be eating and even what supplements they can take to counter any imbalances. My only worry was that, as a pharmacy that sells many premium supplements, customers will only be recommended Johh Bell & Croyden products, making the service rather predatory in regard to patient care.
However, when following up with Dr Vidhi Patel - the doctor in charge of the new service – she assured me that her patients’ health and indeed trust was her first and only priority, regardless of the service being offered by a prestigious pharmacy.
Some might balk at the price tag of £180 but - as my colleague pointed out - you’d pay the same for your car’s MOT so why not for a service which can indicate whether or not you need to follow up with your doctor.
More importantly, services like this, and other in-house offerings, get consumers off of the streets and into the pharmacy. With the emergence of electronic prescription services and digital appointments, pharmacies need to offer ways in which customers feel the benefit there and then.
Whether it’s a holistic check-up from John Bell & Croyden or getting a suspicious-looking mole examined, pharmacies can be the first stop for patients worried about any ailments. For those lucky enough to be sent on their way without anything to worry about, GPs and other NHS departments may just avoid another unnecessary appointment; a small but vital time-saving for an already over-stretched service.
*Note that this service isn’t for diagnostic purposes, but simply a guideline to a healthier lifestyle and to see if you may need follow up appointments with a GP.