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 North has launched a pilot project to introduce the kiosks in the Diabetes, Bariatric and Nutrition Counselling clinics. 

Two touch-screen kiosks have been installed at the site for use by patients who have been previously registered by hospital staff and are returning for scheduled appointments.

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

"Over the past two weeks approximately one-third of our patients have registered using the kiosks," said Sandra Duhamel, Director Decision Support & Reporting, in a release.  

"The kiosks are relatively simple and convenient to use, and allow patients to move smoothly through the first step of their appointment." 

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, 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.