Gallery: Doctor - please report to the touchscreen
From early autumn patients at the London hospital will be greeted by the NCR MediKiosk, a touchscreen computer that allows patients to notify hospital staff they have arrived and update their contact details.
A total of 50 kiosks are being deployed at the hospital's dermatology, haematology, orthopaedics, urology and general surgery clinics as part of the wider NCR patient automated arrival system being fitted at the hospital.
The kiosks will eventually take over more roles from receptionists and clinical staff, targeting patients with health messages on waiting room displays and showing reminders of essential information, such as not to eat before an operation.
Photo credit: NCR Corporation
This gallery was originally posted on "="">silicon.com.
Currently one in seven patients fails to turn up for a scheduled appointment at King's.
About 80 per cent of NHS patients need follow-up consultations and the system will help ensure that emails and letters go to the right place by asking patients to check their details each time they visit, as seen here.
The NCR system can also identify patients who miss appointments allowing staff to reschedule.
Photo credit: NCR Corporation
Receptionists' computers will also be linked into the system - shown here is a receptionist's screen displaying the traffic-light system for managing appointments.
Howard Lewis, ICT project manager at King's College Hospital NHS Trust, said in a statement: "It will help to improve the immediacy and privacy of patient communications as well as reduce queuing and paperwork."
Photo credit: NCR Corporation
If the first phase of deployment is successful, the system will later extend to Kings' accident and emergency, radiology and other outpatient departments.
Currently, the Camberwell Sexual Health Centre at King's College Hospital already has its own separate touchscreen registration system and self-service machines allowing people to obtain free condoms, pregnancy testing and sexual health screening kits.
Photo credit: NCR Corporation
Photo credit: NCR Corporation