Houston's Methodist Hospital System partners with NCR

The Methodist Hospital System, named by U.S. News and World report as one of America's Best Hospitals, is further improving the patient experience by employing self-service online, mobile and kiosk solutions from NCR Corp. to do everything from making appointments to settling outstanding balances, according to a release from NCR.

"We strive to be at the forefront of technology, whether clinical or administrative, and are always searching for ways to improve our care for and communication with patients," said Tim Thompson, CIO of The Methodist Hospital System. "Self-service allows us to achieve those goals by providing greater control and convenience for our patients before, during and after their hospital stay."

Based in Houston, TMHS will deploy a number of self-service solutions across its enterprise of four hospitals and a physician practice, including the NCR MediKiosk that shortens the check-in process, allowing patients to enter information directly onto a kiosk upon arrival, confirm insurance details, complete questionnaires and consent forms, and make payments.

Studies show that offering this added convenience can have a significant impact on patient loyalty. A 2009 survey of U.S. consumers commissioned by NCR reveals that 72 percent of patients are more likely to choose a healthcare provider that offers the flexibility to interact via online, mobile and kiosk self-service channels.

"NCR healthcare solutions leverage the self-service best practices we've learned from automating consumer interactions throughout our daily lives, whether at the bank, in a store or traveling through an airport," said Nelson Gomez, vice president, NCR Healthcare. "By extending that increasingly familiar self-service convenience to its patients, Methodist can further differentiate its services while increasing efficiency and driving down costs."