Now you can check yourself into hospital (From Echo)
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Now you can check yourself into hospital
12:00pm Friday 28th January 2011 in News By Michelle Archard
PATIENTS arriving at Southend Hospital will soon be able to check themselves in using touch screen kiosks.
The technology, in place at many doctors’ surgeries , is to be introduced at Southend Hospital’s outpatients’ department which is undergoing refurbishment.
The new user-friendly system is designed to make the process of checking in for appointments quicker and easier.
Patients simply scan in the barcode at the top of their appointment letter and touch the screen to confirm their date of birth when prompted.
The kiosk will issue a printed number which the patient takes with them to the main waiting area and will be called through to their appointment by their number.
The system, provided by clinic management specialists Savience, is being introduced from February 1 as part of the redevelopment project, due for completion in April.
Outpatients and pre assessment services general manager Melanie Solieri said: “The kiosks are really simple to use and are designed with all of our service users in mind.
“They are fully accessible to wheelchair users, we have settings for those who are partially sighted and also for those whose first language is not English. In addition, our hospital volunteers will be on hand to provide assistance and support to those who need it.
“Once patients are checked in, the system will ensure we know where they are at all times so we can track them throughout their appointment.”
The main outpatients redevelopment project, by Colchester-based contractors the Brennan Group, involves major construction work on the ground floor of the tower block and the refurbishment of 60 treatment rooms as well as a new waiting area with seating for about 80 people, a new cafe and shop.
In addition a new blood testing unit is being built on the mezzanine floor.
Comments(14)
Dan_
says...
12:28pm Fri 28 Jan 11
Ivanna Goodhump
says...
12:38pm Fri 28 Jan 11
'V'
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12:46pm Fri 28 Jan 11
If there is one way to guarantee infections spread round a hospital, it is installing touchscreen technology for every visitor to the hospital to use.
Mark D
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1:03pm Fri 28 Jan 11
'V' wrote:But, realistically, you can't avoid touching something that has been touched by others. At least this would be a specific small area that could be readily managed with gel disinfectant close at hand.
Having been infected with C-Diff in Southend hospital, and d@mned near being killed by it, all I can say is what a mind-numbingly stupid idea. If there is one way to guarantee infections spread round a hospital, it is installing touchscreen technology for every visitor to the hospital to use.
'V'
says...
1:42pm Fri 28 Jan 11
Mark D wrote:In an ideal world perhaps, but in hospitals touchscreen is a disaster waiting to happen. I have friends who work in the hospital (nurses and doctors), their opinion is that since touchscreen TVs and touchscreen TV Pay Points were installed, hospital infections there have increased a huge amount.
'V' wrote:But, realistically, you can't avoid touching something that has been touched by others. At least this would be a specific small area that could be readily managed with gel disinfectant close at hand.
Having been infected with C-Diff in Southend hospital, and d@mned near being killed by it, all I can say is what a mind-numbingly stupid idea. If there is one way to guarantee infections spread round a hospital, it is installing touchscreen technology for every visitor to the hospital to use.
Here's another one that spreads hospital infections: toilet doors all open INTO the toilets, so no matter if you wash your hands after using the toilet, you still have to touch the door handle to open the door to leave. It would make more sense to have the main toilet doors on a two-way sprung hinge, then people could simply puss the door open with a foot and not have to touch it with their hands.
Since I was made so ill I now carry hand sanitiser with me everywhere.
firedog
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5:08pm Fri 28 Jan 11
Women leaving the toilets "pussing"the door ,that would lead to more infections spreading sureley.
'V'
says...
5:12pm Fri 28 Jan 11
firedog wrote:Yeah, that's the priority, the typo, not the massive risk to patients in the hospital. Idiot.
Oh dear "V"
Women leaving the toilets "pussing"the door ,that would lead to more infections spreading sureley.
Nebs
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6:01pm Fri 28 Jan 11
'V' wrote:Why have you signed your post "Idiot". I find your contributions both thought provoking and amusing, and think you underestimate yourself with that signature.
firedog wrote:Yeah, that's the priority, the typo, not the massive risk to patients in the hospital. Idiot.
Oh dear "V"
Women leaving the toilets "pussing"the door ,that would lead to more infections spreading sureley.
emcee
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2:05am Sat 29 Jan 11
j-w
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12:28pm Sat 29 Jan 11
oops back to the drawing board!
lol security words edge-door ! I kid you not.
termite1944
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6:40pm Sat 29 Jan 11
I visited the eye clinic on 13th January and found the floor filthy you could write your name in the dirt, a towel was being used to mop water up outside a toilet and the medical records cupboard in a public area was open, and clearly never closed looking at the way the records were stored right up to the door opening. It was easy to read the names and addresses of patients, but what do they care!
It was absolutely filthy it beggars belief ... and I could have picked up a box of medical records and walked out with them. The staff were all hiding behind the closed reception shutter!
This dirty hospital needs to get the basics right and before installing new gadgets they should try employing proper cleaners ... and I have pictures to support my claims!
It is easy to say a place was a bit messy due to adverse weather etc. but this is ground in filth and the floor hasn't seen a bucket of water since it was laid.
Come on Southend, patients deserve better than this, not that I would ever cross your threshold again ... i have transferred my care to another hospital!
'V'
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7:16pm Sat 29 Jan 11
The problem is the cleaning contracts go to the lowest bidders. The lowest bidders pay the lowest wages. Pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
firedog
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5:14pm Sun 30 Jan 11
I always thought you were a rocket scientist.
jolllyboy says...
12:20pm Fri 28 Jan 11