Spring Break
Health Services provides new self check-in system, electronic records for URI patients
Brenna McCabe
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: News
09/11/08 - Students with a case of influenza will now find themselves in front of a computer screen instead of a Health Services staff member when walking into the Potter building.
Ellen Reynolds, associate director of Health Services, said the facility's new self check-in system allows students to check in electronically in "literally, 15 seconds."
The three check-in kiosks, located in the waiting room area of Health Services, are part of the facility's effort to switch medical records over from paper files to networked computers, where every department within Health Services can access records and necessary patient information.
"We budgeted for it for several years," she said, adding that staff searched for more than a year for a vendor that could provide the best system fit for URI.
"As long as students don't need triage, they can just go over to a kiosk and check themselves in by swiping their IDs or quickly typing in some information," Reynolds said.
When patients arrive at the self check-in, Reynolds said they have to enter three essential pieces of information after swiping their student IDs: "a mobile contact, emergency contact and a space to confirm their medical record."
"We're not seeing any lines or backlog [in front of the kiosks]," she said.
The self check-in also goes along with the new electronic medical records system, which connects to every department within Health Services. "We've wasted many hours looking for records," Reynolds said.
Currently, Health Services staff that used to be in charge of checking students in are now helping to make the cross over to the electronic system. Old records are still being scanned into the system and Reynolds said that she still wants students to be able to have some sort of correspondence with staff.
She said that although the new self check-in system does not require the assistance of Health Services staff, the job of the employees at the front desk will not become obsolete.
"We don't expect any reduction in force," Reynolds said. "This will help us so that we don't have to hire additional staff, but we don't expect to make any cuts."
URI Health Services Director Fred Procopio said he hopes the system will expand so that students have the ability to fill out forms concerning social and family history from their private computers.
He also spoke of the possibility of having students be able to electronically set up appointments from any location, but for now, he's looking for student feedback on the new system and working out the kinks. "Our job is to keep students healthy and in class," Procopio said. "That's what we're here for - we're doing this for the students."
Reynolds said in the future, Health Services would like to set up feedback surveys online so the system can be made easier to use by patients.
Ellen Reynolds, associate director of Health Services, said the facility's new self check-in system allows students to check in electronically in "literally, 15 seconds."
The three check-in kiosks, located in the waiting room area of Health Services, are part of the facility's effort to switch medical records over from paper files to networked computers, where every department within Health Services can access records and necessary patient information.
"We budgeted for it for several years," she said, adding that staff searched for more than a year for a vendor that could provide the best system fit for URI.
"As long as students don't need triage, they can just go over to a kiosk and check themselves in by swiping their IDs or quickly typing in some information," Reynolds said.
When patients arrive at the self check-in, Reynolds said they have to enter three essential pieces of information after swiping their student IDs: "a mobile contact, emergency contact and a space to confirm their medical record."
"We're not seeing any lines or backlog [in front of the kiosks]," she said.
The self check-in also goes along with the new electronic medical records system, which connects to every department within Health Services. "We've wasted many hours looking for records," Reynolds said.
Currently, Health Services staff that used to be in charge of checking students in are now helping to make the cross over to the electronic system. Old records are still being scanned into the system and Reynolds said that she still wants students to be able to have some sort of correspondence with staff.
She said that although the new self check-in system does not require the assistance of Health Services staff, the job of the employees at the front desk will not become obsolete.
"We don't expect any reduction in force," Reynolds said. "This will help us so that we don't have to hire additional staff, but we don't expect to make any cuts."
URI Health Services Director Fred Procopio said he hopes the system will expand so that students have the ability to fill out forms concerning social and family history from their private computers.
He also spoke of the possibility of having students be able to electronically set up appointments from any location, but for now, he's looking for student feedback on the new system and working out the kinks. "Our job is to keep students healthy and in class," Procopio said. "That's what we're here for - we're doing this for the students."
Reynolds said in the future, Health Services would like to set up feedback surveys online so the system can be made easier to use by patients.
