For years, you’ve seen them in airports, movie theaters, and banks. Now, an increasing number of you are seeing kiosks pop up in your practices. While many groups have experienced work flow improvements, not everyone has seen all the promised benefits.

Kiosks – stand-alone, table-top, and tablet versions – have been touted as a way to streamline patient registration, especially during peak hours, increase the accuracy of recorded patient data, collect co-pays or outstanding balances in a timelier manner, and better utilize front-office staff. The added bonus is the impact on patients, according to some in the industry.

“Kiosks are intended to be cost effective for your business, but they also give patients a level of engagement and empowerment,” said Paul Merrild, senior vice president of solutions management at Merge Healthcare. “They feel a level of control over their health information.”

Patients can update their contact information, scan their insurance cards and driver’s license, sign consent forms for tests, and pay co-pays or balances at the kiosk, depending on how your office uses the technology. Many prefer the active involvement, said Jeanne Hanford, applications specialist at Radiology Ltd. In Tucson, Ariz., but others shy away, potentially preventing you from making any staff changes.

Continued on diagnosticimaging.com