News

Kiosks part of Pittsburgh health system patient-care modernization

July 4, 2002

PITTSBURGH -- As part of a $43 million initiative to automate patient care procedures, Pennsylvania medical organization Heritage Valley Health System plans to deploy electronic kiosks for patients to access at the system's facilities.

Heritage Valley operates a pair of hospitals, an outpatient center, and affiliated doctor's offices in the Pittsburgh area.

The initiative began in 1996 when the organization began shifting medical records to electronic databases. Beginning in January, Heritage Valley will issue smart cards to roughly 100,000 people served by the system. Eventually, 300,000 people will receive the cards, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The cards will allow patients to download medical records at kiosks or registration desks, saving time during the patient check-in process. While the cards are designed to save patients time, Heritage Valley officials said the convenience factor will foster patient retention.

"We built this community-based health system to be independent," Norm Mitry, Heritage Valley chief executive officer, told the Post-Gazette. "What we're trying to do now is have this community feel connected to Heritage Valley. The information technology is one way."

The Post-Gazette did not report when the first kiosks will be deployed. The information system, which hospital officials said would save the company $15 million annually once it's fully implemented, is scheduled to be fully operational by 2005.