Health Sciences North tests automated patient registration kiosk

The hospital in Sudbury is testing self-registration kiosks for some of the programs at its outpatient centre on Regent Street.

Health Sciences Northhas launched a pilot project to introduce thekiosks in the Diabetes, Bariatric and Nutrition Counselling clinics.

Two touch-screen kiosks have been installed at the site for useby patientswho have been previously registered by hospital staff and are returning forscheduled appointments.

First-time patients must register with aclerk, the hospital said.

"Over the past two weeks approximately one-third of our patients have registered using thekiosks," saidSandra Duhamel, DirectorDecision Support & Reporting, in a release.

"The kiosks arerelatively simple and convenient to use, and allow patients to move smoothly through the firststep of their appointment."

After swiping their health card, patients using the kiosksare asked a series of questions regarding demographic data and important appointmentinformation that is normally captured during the registration process, the hospital said.

At the end of the process,patients are to move to the waiting room and wait to be called to their appointment.

Volunteers and staff will be available to help people get comfortable with the kiosks, the hospital said, adding that a phone is also available beside the kiosk to request assistance.

Health Sciences North said it will study the use of the kiosks to determine if they should be used in other areas of the hospital.