More patients using self-registration kiosks at P.E.I.'s 2 main hospitals, official says

Health P.E.I.'s self-registration kiosks are seeing an increase in use since they were put in last fall, a hospital manager says. 

The kiosks were installed in November 2024 at Prince County Hospital in Summerside and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. 

"The idea behind it is to allow patients to self-register for scheduled appointments that they have for certain clinics," said Anne Douglas-Oakley, the manager of health records, admitting and telecommunications at PCH. 

"It's helping reduce wait times for registrations for people that would like to use it."

It's most often used by people who come in for daily appointments — for example, to get a dressing changed on a wound or surgical site. 

In the first few months of the kiosks being in place, only a handful of people used them per day, Douglas-Oakley said. Now, about 15 or 20 people are using them each day, she said. 

Patients swipe health cards

The installation of the kiosks is part of Health P.E.I.'s five-year digital health strategy.

Patients can swipe their health card at the kiosk, where their appointment information shows up on a screen. Once patients confirm their personal information, their paperwork is sent to the clinic they are visiting for their appointment, Douglas-Oakley said. 

It's just another way for a patient to register.— Anne Douglas-Oakley

While the option to self-register is available to patients, the option to speak face-to-face with a registration clerk remains available. 

Douglas-Oakley said the choice is comparable to the self-checkout option at the grocery store. 

"Some people prefer to use the self-checkout versus the cashier. Both are available, and it's just whatever they choose," she said. "Having the kiosks come in is not eliminating any jobs… It's just another way for a patient to register." 

Where the kiosks are used

The kiosks are available only at the QEH and PCH ambulatory clinics, which register more than 300 outpatients a day for various services, Douglas-Oakley said. 

Laboratory and diagnostic imaging clinics still require face-to-face registration with a clerk. 

There are no plans to expand self-registration kiosks to emergency departments, Douglas-Oakley said.