Healthcare co. uses cards, kiosks for self-service check-in
September 4, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS — Community Health Network is one of the first healthcare system in the nation to offer new technology that allows patients to check-in with a self-service kiosk and magnetic-stripe membership card. The company is partnering with global self-service solutions provider NCR Corp. to offer the myCommunity Express Check-in to expedite the check-in process by allowing patients to verify their demographic and appointment information via a secure and private touchscreen.
Implementation starts on the campus of Community Hospital North in Indianapolis and will then be implemented at select facilities network-wide during the next two years.
According to a news release, the myCommunity Express Check-in is designed with the goal of reducing frequent, duplicate copies of insurance and personal information, decreasing manual handling of paper, and eliminating multiple signature forms on clip boards from the check-in process. Like the self-service models used successfully by airline, banking, housing and other industries, the membership card and kiosk allow patients to expedite their check-in and gives them time back by swiping their myCommunity card.
"The myCommunity Express Check-in is a big step towards responding to consumer frustration with filling out duplicate forms about health and insurance information," said Dan Rench, vice president of e-Business for Community Health Network. "This new model, which provides greater health care integration for myCommunity members, will be especially helpful to cancer patients, who often require multiple visits during the course of their care."