The Carolinas HealthCare System facility in Lincoln County, N.C., was designed for patience convenience, stressing privacy and reduced appointment wait times, according to an article on the Lincoln Times-News website.
Hospital officials said they have reduced waiting room time through the creation of a centralized check-in station, similar to that of a hotel. By having patients’ rooms ready upon arrival for appointments, individuals can proceed straight to a private room within their practice’s designated area, the article said.
A light, located above each room, flashes during check-in, alerting staff of the person’s arrival and notifying them to begin preparations for the appointment. Once the patient enters the room and closes the door, the light stops flashing but stays on, relaying to physicians that a nurse is in the room checking the person’s vitals.
Each practice also contains two pods — known as “bullpens” — that serve as centralized locations to allow staff to view patient rooms at all times.
If no referrals or checkup appointments need to be scheduled, a patient can check out inside his room and leave the facility without stopping at another station.
A patient’s travel within the facility is also continually tracked during the appointment process.
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