[Crux1024]

Interesting concept....



DALLAS - An emergency room might be the last place you’d think would have do-it-yourself check-in.

But Parkland Memorial Hospital has three self-service computer kiosks, similar to those used by airport passengers and hotel guests. And so do a handful of other hospital ERs, where the long wait in line to register and explain symptoms can be grueling.


Rest of the Article here:

Chest pain? Click here. ER goes self-service
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20761116/

[sunnyjohn]

I used to train at Parkland... Been in that ER MANY times.

If it cuts down on the wait and helps them see people faster, good for them! :tup:

[rnmomtobe2010]

If it shortening the check-in time, what about the wait to see the doctor? Let me know when I don't have to wait what seems like forever to see the doc.. Where I am from, my family has to be really, really sick to make the 45 minute trip to the nearest hospital and then wait 2 hrs. sometimes. Sounds like a good idea though.

[coolpeach]

2 hours lol......

I have talked to several nurses who work at parkland. I am told it is not unusual to wait 24 hours for triage, and 48 hours to been seen by a doctor.

I think the main problem is that it is listed as a county hospital. I have asked tons of people, and they think that means free. They do not realize that you have to apply for free or discounted help, and can do that at many other hospitals also. I can't imagine being sick and having to wait sitting in a crowded, uncomfortable Er for 48 hours. It makes me think of a third world country.

[PeachPie]

Why am I predicting people "cheating" and cutting in line by punching in symptoms like coughing up blood or abdominal pains at 10 pain?

[teeituptom]

I like it

now just have them with an attached menu for drug treatment options you might like.

Select you treament option

out in your Visa or Mastercard and bingo your done

sounds like heaven

[BabyRN2Be]

Originally Posted by teeituptom

I like it

now just have them with an attached menu for drug treatment options you might like.

Select you treament option

out in your Visa or Mastercard and bingo your done

sounds like heaven

Tom's on the right track here.

When I first saw the headline, I was thinking along the lines of someone finally put in a vending machine in the waiting room which contained Vicodin, Xanax, and work releases.

I think they may have taken care of a very small problem, a part of the wait that usually doesn't take much time at all. Someone is not seeing the forest through the trees here.

[Mayflye]

... someone finally put in a vending machine in the waiting room which contained Vicodin, Xanax, and work releases.

Hilarious! And how about an ATM so they can pay their damn bill!

[mianders]

I was an ER nurse for 12 years, and the thing that concerns me about self check-in is the potential for a bad patient not being recognized. One of the things about the patient going to the desk to check out is it gives the nurse an oppurtunity to see "every" patient that comes through the door. It is the responsibility of the triage nurse to triage the patient not a name on a computer. I see the potential for a sentinal event with this type of check-in.

[Altra]

" ...Patients spend about eight minutes at the kiosks, using touchscreens to enter their name, age, and other personal information. The computer shows the patient a list of ailments to choose from, like “pain” or “fever and/or chills” and a list of body parts to indicate where it hurts..."

Wondering how this jibes with the standard of care for chest pain patients ... door to EKG < 10minutes, or possible stroke patients, door to CT scan < 10 minutes.