You, a computer kiosk and hospital registrations

Health Sciences North has launched a pilot project to introduce self-registration kiosks in its diabetes, bariatric and nutrition counselling clinics at the Sudbury Outpatient Centre.

Two touch-screen kiosks have been installed at the site; one on the main floor next to the bariatric clinic and one on the second floor.

“Over the past two weeks, approximately one-third of our patients have registered using the kiosks,” said Sandra Duhamel, Health Sciences North's director of decision support and reporting, in a press release. “The kiosks are relatively simple and convenient to use, and allow patients to move smoothly through the first step of their appointment.”

As part of the pilot project, the kiosks will be used by patients of the diabetes, bariatric and nutrition counselling clinics who have been previously registered and are returning for scheduled appointments.

First-time patients must register with the clerk and may then use the kiosks for any follow-up appointments. After swiping their health card, patients using the kiosks are asked a series of questions regarding demographic data and important appointment information that is normally captured during the registration process. At the end of the process, patients have a seat in the waiting room and wait to be called to their appointment.

To help patients get comfortable with the new process, staff and volunteers will be available to show them how to use the kiosks.

The option to sit down face-to-face with a registration clerk still remains. If the clerk is away from the desk, or in the event of a kiosk malfunction, patients can simply pick up the phone and reach a clerk at the Ramsey Lake Health Centre to complete their registration.

Findings from the pilot project will be used to determine if self-serve kiosks can be used for other applications at Health Sciences Nroth, including wayfinding, making payments or making donations to Health Sciences North’s foundations.