Automated check-in is a success at LVH

Six months ago the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust installed the Savience system at the Lisburn hospital following a successful trial at the Downe Hospital.

The new system has been welcomed by patients, with one praising the efficiency of the high-tech addition to the hospital.

Assistant Director of ICT, Stephen Stewart, explained: “We take a download from the patient admin system and it goes into this check-in system.

“When a patient arrives at the hospital they walk up to the check-in screen, which asks for your date of birth and whether you are male or female. The system then finds the patients details and prints off a ticket to say which doctor they are going to see and which room they have to go to.

“They are then directed to the waiting area and when the doctor is ready their number is called out.”

Mr Stewart went on to explain that the new system increases patient confidentiality and improves the noise levels in the waiting area.

“Previously the doctor would have called out your name and at times the waiting area could have been quite noisy. The new system has made for a quieter environment, has increased privacy and ensures the dignity of the patient at all times.”

The new system can also be adjusted for people who do not speak English as their first language, making the hospital more accessible for foreign nationals.

“It is very straight forward and very flexible,” added Mr Stewart.

The Savience system is just one of the new technological advancements the South Eastern Trust is hoping to install for patients in the Lisburn area over the coming months.

“We are hoping the new system will also allow patients to check their details, for example address, telephone number and email address,” continued Mr Stewart.

“We intend to implement an appointments reminder facility, whereby patients will be reminded of their upcoming appointments via email or text message.

“We want to engage with patients as much as possible and we are doing a lot on the technological front in our Trust,” he concluded.