Scope of works: Project management, software development and web technologies.
The Surgery Media Systems Ltd (SMS) digital signage network consists of an interactive touchscreen kiosk , an infotainment 40″ LCD screen , an online administrative web portal and a public facing health information portal called www.myinfopoint.co.uk . Collectively, the digital signage network is called the patient infoPoint system.
Waterside Dental, Canary Wharf
The wall mounted screen displays content customised by the practice, including instant messaging, quizzes, real time feeds via the internet and customisable slides. The interactive kiosk contains information videos, detailed information about the practice and gives patients the opportunity to register their details with the practice and fill out a survey created by the practice.
infoManager - The Survey Manager (click to enlarge)
I developed a web-based survey manager where the practice could create and edit their own surveys, publish to their interactive kiosks and report on each survey’s results using the web-based administrative portal.
The infoManager - web based administrative portal
The administrative web portal manages ever aspect of the system. From the web portal, the practice has direct control on content creation, content updates, survey reporting and patient registration details from the interactive kiosk and the ability to send target emails to their patients.
The public health portal - www.myinfopoint.co.uk
SMS was setup in 2008, and I was asked to join the company as project manager and developer. My first task was to interview and short list a team of developers and designers. Based on documentation of what the patient infoPoint system would initially become work began on developing the brand new SMS digital signage network.
I project managed the SMS digital signage network from beginning to end. I also got heavily involved in software development, specifically the content playback and backend solution, internal and external web sites and database programming.
After 8 months of development, design work, testing and plenty of late nights, a final version of the patient infoPoint system was completed ready for launch at the BDA Dental Show, ExCel Centre in the heart of London’s Royal Docks. It was positively received and headway made to market the SMS digital signage network to interested dental practices throughout the UK.
Screen and interactive kiosk components
The SMS digital signage network sold well and installations began. 12 months after development started, the patient infoPoint system was installed into at leats 10 dental practices.
Once the SMS digital signage network was operational, I developed a site monitoring and fault logging system using PHP and mySQL. This reported on the network’s health status and was checked regularly by the SMS support staff. When an issue arose, a fault was entered into the fault logging system where I monitored progress and ensured faults were resolved.
During my time at SMS my responsibilities have included the following:-
- Ensuring key project targets were met and on time.
- Preparing, testing and setting up equipment for exhibitions and demos.
- Technical and operations point of contact.
- Continued web site development of the various SMS websites and web portals.
- Interviewing and hiring new members of staff, appraisals, staff holiday and absenteeism.
- Holding regular staff and operations meetings.
- Liaising with clients, suppliers, Directors, shareholders and business partners.
- Technical documentation writing and monthly company technical and operational reports for board meetings.
- Organising and presenting project demos to prospective new clients and dealers.
- Software and hardware testing and repairing.
- Project managing site installations.
In Jan 2009, as the Project Management concentration ended my role changed to Operations Manager.
New responsibilities also included:-
- Sourcing new screen content and arranging usage permission with the various government agencies.
- Ensuring the digital signage network is healthy.
- Ensuring all sites were operational and repairing faults or failures.
- Bug fixes and improvements in the digital signage software and SMS websites as they arise.
- Liaising with suppliers, sourcing improved hardware and reducing the price of the existing digital signage solution.
- Programming new and updating content using Scala Designer.
- Management of the technical, sales and content staff and departments.
- Holding training days.
The infoManager - Survey results
Here is the official Surgery Media Systems Ltd marketing brochure.
Client Testimonials
“We find the patient infoPoint system a valuable asset as it keeps our patients informed on what we have to offer as well as the news and things of interest showing on the screen has helped nervous patients and children to keep occupied while waiting to go in to the surgery for treatment. Thank you very much for a fantastic aid to the surgery.”
Sue McVey, Broadfield Dental Care
“We certainly found it very useful in improving the efficiency in the service we provide to our patients. Using the reports we can see patients feedback on the service we provide. We have a system where our patients can freely give us feedback without feeling pressured to do so as they willingly want to use the infoTouch.”
Dr. Binamin, Widney Dental Care
“The focus will be on marketing, something that dentists are becoming very serious about as all of the discretionary treatments such as tooth whitening generate more income. That was one of the main reasons for going ahead with the patient infoPoint system in the first place as previously the practice relied on word of mouth and we wanted to target patients with the treatment they had shown interest in.”
Dr. Mapanda, Direct Dental Care.
