Outpatients attending Altnagelvin Hospital will from next week be able to check themselves in for appointments using the latest state-of-the-art technology.
From left, Mandy Sharkey, Outpatients team lead, Louise Gallagher, system administrator, Neil Donaghy, clerical officer, Sorcha Duggan, patient access manager, Karen Phelan, service manager and Phillip McGowan, service manager over patients access, at the launch of the outpatients self check-in kiosks at Altnagelvin Hospital.
Already a great success in the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, the Western Trust is now introducing state-of-the-art Outpatients Self-Service Check-in and Call-Out Screens in its Outpatient Department at Altnagelvin Hospital from Thursday 6 February next.
The new system is being introduced help reduce the time patients have to wait to book in for their appointment.
The easy-to-use kiosks allow patients to book in for their outpatient appointment without having to queue to see a receptionist.
Patients simply confirm their gender and date of birth when prompted – the system will then ask them to confirm a few further details prior to booking in.
The kiosks are also equipped with built-in printers, which will print off a ticket which contains the patient’s call number, appointment time and location.
Patients are then able to take their seats in the designated waiting area as identified on the ticket.
Geraldine McKay, Director of Acute Services, said the new kiosks were “really simple” to use and would enhance patients’ experiences in the hospital’s Outpatient Department.
She added: “Step by step instructions take you through each stage of checking in and you just enter your details on the touch screen. You can only read what is on the screen if you are standing right over it so it is very private.
She continued: “Outpatients is the first point of contact with the Trust for many patients, so the introduction of these kiosks will give them an improved service, whilst freeing receptionists to spend time with patients that need help.”
Phillip McGowan, Patient Access Manager for the Western Trust, said the system would help to reduce the amount of time patients have to wait to be booked in for their appointment and waiting around in the main waiting area.
She added: “They will also reduce the need for patients to be escorted to their appointment by staff as the system will automatically direct patients to their area.
“The new system has been welcomed by Altnagelvin Outpatients staff, who have been fully involved in the planning stages through to implementation. We have made sure that the system is fully supported by staff and volunteers who will be on hand to provide assistance and support to those who need it.”
Outpatients will still able to choose whether to use the self-check-in kiosks or continue to use the receptionist.
The service will include six touchscreen check-in kiosks – three at the main outpatients entrance, one centrally located within the department and one at each of the secondary entrances to outpatients, as well as information/call out screens at each waiting area.
There will be times when Trust volunteers will provide a “meet and greet” role in this area and they also can offer support to patients who may have difficulty in using the new system.
The Trust believe benefits of the new system will include freeing up the time of nursing staff who previously would have had to continually link with reception staff to track patients, effective and instant management of changes to clinic rooms, allowing clinicians to call patients at the touch of a button and providing real time updates of clinic running times.
HOW IT WORKS….
* Up to 30 minutes prior to their appointment time, a patient arriving at the hospital can walk up to the check-in screen and insert the barcode on their letter below the scanner. The system shall then ask for confirmation of date of birth and gender. The system registers the patient’s attendance and prints off a ticket with a reference number and details of which clinic waiting area to go to.
* The check-in kiosk screens can only be read by a person directly in front of the unit and therefore maintain confidentiality. The check-in kiosk can also accommodate patients who do not speak English as their first language, improving accessibility for foreign nationals.
* After receiving their ticket, patients will follow the way-finding signs around the department to reach the designated wait area. When clinicians are ready they can view directly which patients are waiting and call them using their PC. When called the patients ticket reference number will be announced on a call-out screen at the waiting area. The message will also specify which room number they should proceed to.
* The Savience System already links directly with the Trusts two Patient Administration System’s (PAS) to access outpatient appointment details, and clinic letters are being redesigned to include the patients’ Health and Care number barcode.
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