News

Kiosk helps clinic collect patients' debts

May 24, 2011

Houston-based Richmond Bone & Joint Clinic can more easily collect patient debt thanks to new check-in kiosks that are integrated with a payment-management system.

"We were missing a big opportunity at our check-in desk to address balances in advance of the patient's visit," CEO Juliet Breeze told healthleadersmedia.com. "So we would check the patient in and because the check-in people were so busy, they would sometimes forget to talk to the patient about the balance that we already knew was due."

The kiosks alert patients to current and past balances, which they can pay at the machine by swiping their credit or debit cards. Patients who don't pay cannot complete the check-in process without speaking to a financial counselor.

According to the story, the office has enjoyed a 5 percent collection increase since deploying the kiosk. Breeze said she's also saved on the cost of sending out paper bills and on salaries, as fewer employees are needed to staff the front desk.