Halifax hospital introduces electronic check-in kiosks

Halifax's IWK Health Centrehas become the first hospital in Atlantic Canada to have electronic kiosks for patient check-in.

The first kiosk was installed in the pediatric neurology clinic earlier this week, Anne McGuire, IWK's president, said Friday. More kiosks are planned for other locations throughout the hospital.

"We're starting now with just getting people registered. But I'm hoping, over time, people would arrive in the health centre, go to a kiosk, put their health card in and be told: 'This is where your appointment is, this is how you get there, this is who's waiting to see you,' "McGuire said.

"The whole process will be streamlined."

The kiosk system is meant to reduce waiting times for families, particularly if they have several appointments at a variety of clinics, McGuire said.

She said the system is already in use at hospitals throughout Ontario and the United States.