This site is intended for health professionals only

Trust launches self-check-in machines to fast track patients

Trust launches self-check-in machines to fast track patients
By vfiore
21 February 2018



A trust has introduced ten kiosks to fast track patients and avoid they wait too long to be assisted by the receptionist.

Some £100,000 were invested in a range of wall mounted and desktop machines that were placed in J Block General Outpatients, Ear Nose and Throat, Antenatal Clinic, Eye Unit, Therapies, Cardiology and Orthopaedic Outpatients at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Just like reception staff, the machines ask patients who check-in to provide personal details such as their address, ethnicity, GP practice, and date of birth.

A trust has introduced ten kiosks to fast track patients and avoid they wait too long to be assisted by the receptionist.

Some £100,000 were invested in a range of wall mounted and desktop machines that were placed in J Block General Outpatients, Ear Nose and Throat, Antenatal Clinic, Eye Unit, Therapies, Cardiology and Orthopaedic Outpatients at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Just like reception staff, the machines ask patients who check-in to provide personal details such as their address, ethnicity, GP practice, and date of birth.

The machines offer information in up to 12 languages and have options for patients with hearing or visual difficulties.

Reception staff still remains available to assist patients with queries, booking follow-up appointments and other tasks.

Services manager in charge of the project Dawn Fletcher-Wilde said the new system would help queue bust as their outpatient department usually gets very busy, dealing with around 300 patients a day.

She said: ‘There are occasions when people may have to wait quite some time to get to reception and that is really frustrating for them, the receptionists and the clinicians. 

‘This new system will help with that and is very much about improving the patient experience by fast tracking them through the check-in process.

‘We are still keeping all our reception staff to assist patients with queries, booking next appointments and other tasks.’

The interactive kiosks also provide patients with information on which waiting or treatment area they are supposed to go and are connected to IT systems in the hospital, allowing staff to update the information when needed.

The machines are also able to track the progress of a patient’s appointment, which can be used to improve the clinic flow for all patients.

Want news like this straight to your inbox?

Related articles