iSOFT Group Limited (ASX:ISF) announced an order from Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust for Savience touch-screen kiosks to cut queues and free reception and nursing staff at the Darent Valley Hospital.
The trust has ordered three Savience self-service kiosks for outpatient reception and two for its fracture clinic for patients to check-in for appointments automatically and update their demographic details. A faster, modern check-in service will improve the patient experience and hospital workflows.
The move is also part of a drive to cut did-not-attend (DNA) rates. "Poor demographic information is a significant problem, which the new system will help overcome," said the trust's Outpatient Project Manager, Paul Wilson. "The Savience system will help to minimise DNA rates and contribute to a sizable reduction in lost revenue."
Other plans include introducing SMS text messaging and email reminders, again using details entered by patients via the kiosks.
With built-in printers, the kiosks print off a patient's call number and appointment details. There are also eight new plasma screens to support patient calling. The use of call numbers helps protect patient confidentiality.
Paul Wilson says the kiosks promote a new, modern practice that is in keeping with a modern hospital setting and will ultimately save staff time. "The system will enable the reception staff to concentrate on the important end of pathway processes such as outcomes, follow-on appointments and coding as well as allowing them to devote more time to patients that need help. It will also lead to more effective use of nursing time, as nurses will spend far less time finding and escorting patients."
A subsequent phase of the project is to interface the kiosks with the trust's iSOFT patient administration system to update patient details automatically.
"We continue to work closely with Darent Valley to identify innovative solutions to increase efficiency, improve patient satisfaction and reduce costs," said Adrian Stevens, Managing Director of iSOFT's UK and Ireland business. "I am confident of further orders for Savience kiosks from other NHS trusts given the obvious benefits and potential savings."
This is iSOFT's first sale of Savience kiosks since agreeing a partnership with the company in February 2010.
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- iSOFT Group Limited's Profile
About iSOFT Group
iSOFT Group Limited (ASX: ISF) is the largest health information technology company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, and among the world's biggest providers of advanced application solutions in modern healthcare economies.
iSOFT works with healthcare professionals to design and build software applications that answer all of the difficult questions posed by today's healthcare delivery challenges. Our solutions act as a catalyst for change, supporting free exchange of critical information across diverse care settings and participating organisations.
Today, more than 13,000 provider organisations in over 40 countries use iSOFT's solutions to manage patient information and drive improvements in their core processes. The group's sustainable development is delivered through careful planning, in-depth analysis of the market, and anticipation of our clients’ evolving requirements. Our business is driven by the collective talent, experience and commitment of more than 4,700 specialists in 19 countries worldwide, including more than 2,700 technology and development professionals.
A global network of iSOFT subsidiaries, supported by an extensive partner network, provides substantial experience of national healthcare markets. As a result, we offer our clients comprehensive knowledge of local market requirements in terms of culture, language, working practices, regulation and organizational structure.