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The Role of Queue Management Systems in Healthcare Facilities

The patient flow management is becoming more challenging day by day due to its huge impact on healthcare delivery, patient satisfaction, operational efficiency and long term organizational success. By efficiently managing patient flow healthcare organizations can greatly improve operational efficiency, which help boosting productivity and profitability in long term. Healthcare delivery is a very sensitive sector, the patient are usually under stress, they want immediate service and attention. Crowded waiting areas are also not good from health and safety prospective. Therefore the hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and healthcare organizations need a very efficient patient flow management system.

A modern queue management system is ideal for present day service sector’s needs. However, for the healthcare sector it needs some specific features, therefore a customized or tailor-made patient flow management system is required. A hospital queue management system or patient flow management system have all features of a modern queue management system with additional features such as integration with appointment booking tools, mobile queue management apps, healthcare and patient portals, electronics healthcare databases, and patient databases, etc. It also has to offer intuitive management dashboard where the management and responsible personals can monitor and control the patient flow.

In this blog we will discuss the role of a queue management system in healthcare facilities and how to leverage it for patient excellence and long term success.

See Also: What are the Different Types of Queue Management System?

The Role of Queue Management Systems in Healthcare Facilities
The Role of Queue Management Systems in Healthcare Facilities

What is a Hospital Queue Management System?

Traditionally a digital queue management system is a combination of software and hardware which is specifically designed to streamline the customer flow at any service center and to solve waiting line problems. Different industries utilize queue management systems and customize them as per their needs and industry standards. For example, a queue management system at banks would be slightly different than a queue management system for logistic company or for a government office. All industry sectors who are serving customer in one way or another require a proactive waiting line management system.

Whether it is retail, banking sector, logistics or transportation, government office, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, airports, every industry have different challenges, hence every industry needs a personalized queuing solution to deal with those exclusive challenges. In healthcare facilities a queue management system often includes a ticket dispensing kiosk, digital signage screens to display live queuing updates, announcement and ticket calling system, integration with patient portals, online booking systems, and in some cases integrated mobile applications as well. A hospital queue management system can also integrate multiple communication channels and virtual queuing for elevated patient experience.

See Also: What are the Basic Components of Queue Management System?

What is a Hospital Queue Management System?
What is a Hospital Queue Management System?

Benefits of Implementing a Hospital Queue Management System at Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

Every country has a different healthcare system, the hospitals, clinics, testing labs, and other healthcare facilities in UAE are well-aware of the competitiveness and diverse business landscape. In such dynamic and diverse business landscape if a healthcare organization wants to build a good reputation, they must ensure a quicker and satisfactory healthcare delivery to the patients. Studies have shown that around 30% of the patient tend to choose healthcare facilities majorly on the bases of wait time. That is why a proactive and well-structured approach to patient flow management is absolutely essential. A hospital queue management system offer various advanced features which not only elevate patient experience but also help healthcare organizations to drive efficiency through internal processes.

See Also: Important Hardware Components of a Queue Management System

Here are some key advantages of a hospital queue management system which healthcare organizations can leverage to boost operational efficiency and to elevate patient experience:

  • Digital Check-Ins: Patient can register through online or via mobile apps, and they can also check-in via on-premises ticket dispensing kiosk. Both the online channels and the ticket dispensing kiosks is integrated with patient database, hence eliminating the need of manual check-ins and prevent crowding at receptions.
  • Real-time Notifications and Alerts: A hospital queue management system is integrated with various communication channels such as SMS, WhatsApp, email, etc. which enable it to send real-time updates, notifications and alerts about patient turn, any change in their wait time, or any other important information. It can also send alerts via online portals, and mobile applications.
  • Reduced Wait Time: Long wait time and delays are common complaints at healthcare facilities which can greatly hinder patient satisfaction. By leveraging a hospital queue management system the healthcare facilities can effectively utilize their resources and optimize their internal workflows which streamline patient flow and reduce wait time.
  • Analytical Data and Reporting: This is one of the most important feature of a hospital queue management system. The management can get deeper insights to patient flow and they can also measure staff performance. The in-built analytical and customized reporting tools help identifying bottlenecks and areas of improvement which lead to informed decisions.
  • Elevate Patient Experience: A well-organized waiting area and efficient patient flow lead to a calm and stress-free environment which let patient feel more valued and respected. Furthermore the reduction in wait time, efficiency in healthcare delivery, digital check-ins, real-time updates and various other features also help elevating patient experience and entire patient journey.
  • Boost Staff Performance: For any healthcare facility the staff performance management is very crucial. The patient experience, quality of healthcare and patient satisfaction depends on staff efficiency. A hospital queue management system empowers staff by providing them with real-time updates and analytical data which enable them to make informed decisions and avoid bottlenecks.
  • Enhance Internal Workflows: As it is integrated with internal systems, core application, and all relevant third-party solutions, it can effortlessly make data available on all relevant platforms. As a patient turn comes, their data is pushed to all platforms such as doctors, cash counters, labs, admin staff, etc. which greatly improve internal workflows and drive efficiency and accuracy.
  • Effectively Implement Queuing Policy: At any healthcare there are always some patients who need urgent attention and have severe problem than the rest. A hospital queue management system provides specialized features which allow management to prioritize different patients on the bases of severity of their problem ensuring a smooth and seamless patient flow.
  • Crowd Prevention: For any hospital or healthcare facility the crowd formation is a big challenge which not only impact patient experience but also tend to reduce staff performance. A hospital queue management system provides real-time data analysis and alerts to the staff giving them enough time to reallocate resources and avoid crowd formation at any touch point.
  • AI and Resource Optimization: The AI or Artificial intelligence plays a vital role in modern queuing. A hospital queue management system equipped with AI can help management acquire a deeper insight into patient flow, behavior and staff performance. It can predict wait time, and it can identify trends which help optimizing the resource allocation in real-time.
  • Virtual Queuing and Personalized Scheduling: A hospital queue management system supports virtual queuing integrated with remote channels, allowing patient to sign-up remotely without being physically present at the premises. Patient can chose the time of appointment form available slots based on predictive wait time and currently patient flow, which elevate patient experience.
  • Increased Transparency and Trust: When the patient are unsure of when their turn comes, they get anxious. A hospital queue management system not only provide real-time queuing updates but it also provide predictive wait time. When the patients know the queuing is managed by an automated system, they feel confident that they are treated fairly without any discrimination.
  • Scalability and Customization: A hospital queue management system comes with a centralized server-side software which makes it a lot easier to expand it to other branches or add more counters and users. The management can also customize the queue management system as per their emerging needs with nominal expense, which makes them more future-ready.

A hospital queue management system is exclusively designed for healthcare sector keeping all the industry needs and challenges in mind. The upfront cost of the deployment of a hospital queue management system might seem high, but in long-term if the ROI is calculated considering the impact it has on patient and staff performance, makes it ideal solution for modern patient-centric healthcare facilities.

Furthermore the maintenance and operational cost of a hospital queue management system is very nominal which further add value of its overall ROI. Organizations can easily scale it up, do more integration with other systems and customize its features as per their needs which increase its impact.

See Also: What is a Bill Payment Kiosk: Everything You Need to Know

Benefits of Implementing a Hospital Queue Management System at Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
Benefits of Implementing a Hospital Queue Management System at Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

Conclusion

A hospital queue management system is a specialized type of modern digital queue systems. It includes industry specific features which makes it more effective. That is why a hospital queue management system plays a crucial role in streamlining patient flow, elevating patient journey and experience and enhancing operational efficiency. A hospital queue management system effectively reduce patient wait time, and it offers remote check-ins and personalized scheduling or appointment booking which empowers patient. Furthermore, both the management and the patients get full queuing updates in real-time which where enhances patient experience also help boosting the operational efficiency.

The integration with other third-party software, databases, electronic health record, patient data, online channels and appointment booking tools make hospital queue management system a complete transformation tool. Hospitals, clinics, testing labs, and other healthcare facilities operating in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and all around the UAE are well aware of the competitive business landscape of the country. Studies have shown that a large number of patients prioritize a healthcare facility only on the bases of wait time. That is why a proactive and modern approach to patient flow management is crucial for a long term organizational success.

In this blog we briefly discussed the role of a hospital queue management system in elevating patient experience and boosting operational efficiency in healthcare facilities. If you want to learn more about the subject or if you need our help in deploying a tailor-made hospital queue management system for your healthcare facility, please feel free to contact us through our Contact Us page or leave a comment in the comment box below and we will get in touch with you soon.

See Also: What should be covered in a hospital website?

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Streamlining the Waiting Experience: How Queue Management Systems Improve Patient Flow

The hospitals, clinics, medical and health facilities have to deal with large footfall, overcrowded lobbies and waiting areas on regular bases. The patient often have to face long waiting time which makes them more frustrated and make it difficult for the staff to deliver a good experience. The poor queue management or queuing policy can lead to dissatisfaction and distrust which can severally harm your clinic, hospital or medical facility’s reputation.

Furthermore it is important to consider that when patients are visiting any healthcare or medical facility, they are already in stressful condition, if you hospital or clinic is failed to deliver them a good experience they will get more stressed, that is why an efficient queue management system is needed. The patient experience mostly depends on how quickly they get served attended and then the next important thing is how the staff handle them. If you have crowded waiting areas and unhappy patients, the staff will have a lot more work to do, which will definitely hinder their performance.

Altogether these all factors will harm the patient experience and will add to their dissatisfaction which is very bad for your reputation. In this blog we will sum up how an effective queue management system can streamline the patient flow at hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and healthcare facilities.

Streamlining the Waiting Experience: How Queue Management Systems Improve Patient Flow
Streamlining the Waiting Experience: How Queue Management Systems Improve Patient Flow

See Also: 3 dimensions of Queue Management System for Hospitals

How Patient Queue Management System is Different from other Queuing Systems?

The queue management system is a very complex tool and it is built on a highly smart AI-based algorithms, this complexity allow it to effectively implement a business or organization’s queuing policy. Now if we talk about an ordinary queue management system it is used to facilitate multiple customer routes, include a variety of different services and sets of priorities, etc. When it comes to the patient queue management system the important thing to understand is that the patient who are visiting hospitals, clinics, medical facilities or healthcare establishments are mostly anxious, stressed and in sometime could be in pain.

This demands all healthcare facilities including hospitals, clinics and testing facilities to ensure all patients receive adequate service based on their condition too and also as quickly as possible. No one wants to wait in long queues at hospitals, clinics or healthcare facilities, neither patient nor their families, everyone wants to get the treatment or service as quickly as possible. Therefore the waiting time is the most crucial factor in queuing management which can only be minimized when the patient flow is streamlined and the entire system works with highest level of efficiency and efficacy. This is what makes patient queue management system slightly different from regular queue management systems.

See Also: What are the Different Types of Queue Management System?

How Patient Queue Management System is Different from other Queuing Systems?
How Patient Queue Management System is Different from other Queuing Systems?

What are the Important Features of a Patient Queue Management System?

Businesses and organizations operating in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and other cities of UAE are using a variety of different queue management system depending on their needs and industry standards. However, for the healthcare sector the queue management system should include most modern features which can help them to improve patient flow, their journey and also the performance of the staff to ensure a better patient experience. Usually hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities doesn’t implement a customized queue management system which is exclusively designed for the healthcare industry.

See Also: Queue Management System Features you Need for Modern Queuing

Virtual Queuing Features and Remote Channels

The inclusion of virtual queuing and remote channels is one of the most important feature for the patient queue management system. The virtual queuing is a modern form of queuing which enables the patients to remotely sign-up for the queues even if they are not at the facility. The patient queue management system integrates remote channels such as mobile apps, online web portals, SMS, WhatsApp, etc. This allow the patient to sign-up even prior to arriving to the hospital or clinic or any healthcare facility. Furthermore the queue management system can also allow the patients to view the current queuing status and the system can also share live updates with estimated queue time.

All these features help patients to plan their visit and also minimize the wait time. Since the patient have full view and live coverage of the ongoing queues, they can easily plan their visit and arrive only when their turn comes. This feature can literally minimize the waiting time to none and help improving the patient experience. The queue management system mobile apps and online portals can greatly enhance patient experience and help reducing the workload of the staff by preventing crowd formation and empowering them with additional administrative control.

See Also: What Is Virtual Queuing? A Guide to Virtual Queues

Patient Queue Management System: Virtual Queuing
Patient Queue Management System: Virtual Queuing

Third-party System Integration

The patient queue management system is not limited to virtual queuing and appointment booking tools, but it can also be integrated with patient data and other third-party systems using secure web services or APIs. The integration help offering a personalized patient experience. The patient queue management system can analyze the patient history and provide them most suitable time for their appointment, it can also give suggestions to patients about available or alternate doctors or even the schedule as per their needs which makes it easier for patient to choose the most convenient time for their visit. If the patient are at the hospital, clinic or testing facility, the patient queue management system can provide them the accurate wait time for their particular service based on the previous data and current queuing stats.

The patient queue management system can be integrated with mobile apps, appointment booking portals, and internal management system which allows it to provide the real-time updates about any change in schedule and help patient book the right time for their visit. Based on patient’s history and current service request the patient queue management system can automatically set the priority level for the patient and put them on the right queue. All these features not only enhance patient experience, but also help reducing wait time and improve overall patient flow.

See Also: Must have features of Queue Management System

Patient Queue Management System: Third-party System Integration
Patient Queue Management System: Third-party System Integration

Announcements and Notification Center

When a patient sign-up for the queue either using virtual queuing or on-premises ticket dispensing interactive kiosks, they patient queue management system should be able to send them alerts and important queuing information. If the patient are signing up remotely or booking an appointment, the patient queue management system should provide continuous alerts and notifications. These alerts and notifications can be sent across multiple channels, for example, the queue management system mobile app can have push-notifications and in-app alerts along with live queuing information and update to keep patient informed. There should be alerts after short intervals to ensure the patient didn’t get late or miss out their turn.

When the patient are at the hospital, clinic, or medical facility there should be large digital signage displays with live queuing information displayed on them. Furthermore the audio announcement system and patient calling should be provided. Along with that the SMS alerts can be very helpful, because in such situations people tend to spend time on their mobile phones, so the SMS can quickly alert them. Furthermore since the patient queue management system is integrated with central information center and any other relevant third-party system, it can identify if any change is made in schedule or any delay is expected, and automatic alerts can be configured to update the patients about these changes.

See Also: Manage Patient Appointment and Journey with Queue Management System

Patient Queue Management System: Announcements and Notification Center
Patient Queue Management System: Announcements and Notification Center

Data Collection and Reporting

The patient queue management system software can collect a wide range of business intelligence data from as simple as number of patient to AI driven deep insights, based on your requirements. As a patient queue management system is also a digital system so it can collect data from each and every touch point of the customer journey. This data can help hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities to improve their patient journey, highlight the areas of improvements and monitor performance. Since the patient queue management system offers multiple channels hence the data can also be collected from and integrated channels. However, the important thing is that the system should be able to collect valuable and accurate data which can be later analyzed and converted into actionable reports which can guide management in making informed decisions.

The patient queue management system also offers in-built analytical tools which can further enhance the reporting and help management produce customized reports as per their needs and share different data types with different decision makers and stakeholders. The patient queue management system can also collect patient feedback. Multiple channels can be utilized to collect patient feedback such as on-premises tablets/kiosks, mobile apps, online portals, etc. The patient feedback is very important and can help management further improve their services and processes to align them with the patient needs.

See Also: 6 Benefits of using Queuing System in Hospitals

Patient Queue Management System: Data Collection and Reporting
Patient Queue Management System: Data Collection and Reporting

Conclusion

Patient and their families coming to hospitals, clinics, laboratories and other medical facilities are already anxious and at an un-easy position, which means they want to get the treatment or service a quickly as possible. In such situation waiting in long queues or in crowded waiting areas can further deteriorate their experience. That is why healthcare sector is rapidly adopting and implementing modern queue management systems to enhance patient experience and to drive performance. When it comes to a patient queue management system there are tons of different queue management systems available in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and other parts of UAE.

This can be very frustrated for the management or decision maker, therefore we have enlisted the important features and aspects of an effective patient queue management system in this blog. A good patient queue management system is exclusively designed for the healthcare sector to cater to their unique business needs. A patient queue management system can greatly minimize average patient wait time by improving patient flow and automating several processes. If you want to learn more about the subject or if you want our help to design and implement a customized queue management system for your healthcare facility, please feel free to contact us through our Contact Us page or leave a comment in the comment box below and we will get in touch with you soon.

See Also: What is Queue Management? Beginner’s Guide to Queuing Systems


Badr Al Samaa Group (Oman) Acquired RSI Queue Management System

Badr Al Samaa Group (Oman) Acquired RSI Queue Management System
Badr Al Samaa Group (Oman) Acquired RSI Queue Management System

The Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers is a well-known, well-reputed, and one of the largest medical and healthcare facilities in Oman, with a strong presence in several other countries as well. The Badr Al Samaa Group has more than 20 centers, 400 highly qualified and experienced doctors, and an army of nurses and support staff to ensure that patients receive extraordinary care and an exceptional experience during their visit to any facility of the Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers. The Badr Al Samaa Group has deployed some of the most modern and technologically advanced equipment at all facilities to ensure that patients receive the highest level of healthcare. The Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers started as a polyclinic in 2002 but has gained huge popularity and built a strong reputation across the GCC due to its extraordinary quality and standards in diagnostic, curative, and preventive medical care. Technology plays an important role in achieving success, which is why the Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers is always proactively seeking modern solutions and technologies to improve existing workflows, processes, and patient experience. Therefore, the management recently decided to implement a brand-new patient queue management system at their facility to improve operations and streamline patient flow.

Patient flow and quicker service delivery play a crucial role in patient experience. Most patients coming to healthcare facilities are already anxious, worried, sometimes stressed, and even in pain. To comfort patients with different needs, any healthcare facility requires a highly efficient patient queue management system. A patient queue management system not only improves patient experience but also helps to drive efficiency and elevate staff performance. The Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers shortlisted top queue management system providers and finally awarded the project to RSI Concepts. Our technologically superior queue management system and track record helped us win this project. The goal of the project was to implement a highly advanced patient queue management system to help the management gain better insights into patient journeys and aid administrative staff in improving their productivity and performance.

Our patient queue management system is exclusively optimized for modern healthcare and medical facilities, with a proven track record of successful implementation in many GCC countries. In recent years, we have implemented our system in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and several other GCC cities, which has helped us to further refine and update it. The system we have deployed at the Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers is equipped with smart software, digital signage, counter display units, interactive ticket dispensing units, and advanced audio announcement and customer calling features. The customer calling and announcement system is multilingual, and the system is also equipped with an advanced reporting module that can collect valuable business intelligence data and produce customized reports, further empowering the management and helping them to utilize the insights in decision-making processes.

Here are the remarks of our Senior Project Manager, Mr. Shehzad Asghar, who is the master architect of our queue management system and he also led the team that deployed our modern patient queue management system at Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers:

“It was one of my best experiences working with the Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers team. Both the management and teams are highly professional and super cooperative. Their cooperation helped us a lot in delivering the complete project on a slightly tight timeline. The initial response and user acceptance testing (UAT) were excellent, and the Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers team admired and appreciated the features of our advanced patient queue management system. We will keep working hard to improve our services and solutions, and we look forward to extending our collaboration with the Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers.”

Collaborating with Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals and Medical Centers, Oman’s foremost healthcare service provider, has been an absolute delight. Our commitment to each project is to tailor our services to meet the unique and very specific needs of our clients, ensuring that their requirements are not only met but exceeded.