Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre's (RVH) Emergency Department (ED) has implemented a self-service kiosk system to streamline the check-in process and enhance patient privacy.
Patients arriving at the ED will now scan their health card, enter information regarding their specific health concern, and receive a numbered ticket from one of the kiosks located just outside the doors.
The collected information is automatically integrated into RVH's electronic medical record system, and available on a dashboard for triage nurses to see who is in the waiting room in real-time. Before even speaking to a patient, they can identify those with the most acute or high-risk conditions and make sure they are prioritized. This innovation in patient care helps ensure people arriving to the ED are checked in more promptly and efficiently.
A key feature of the ticket system is a greater level of patient privacy. When a patient is called, first by the triage nurse and second by the registration clerk, they will now be identified by their number instead of their name. That number is also flashed on wall-mounted screens with instructions on where to go next.
"We are excited about the implementation of kiosks in the ED," says Ray Howald, RVH Emergency Department Manager. "This is only the beginning when it comes to utilizing this technology, and we envision enhancements and further integrations to continue improving patient flow, patient experience and positively enhancing ED wait times."
For any patient who needs assistance with the new kiosk, an ED receiver is on hand Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help. Outside of those times, the registration clerk will be available to assist.
