What you need to know about Mayo's new patient kiosks

Patients at Mayo Clinic in Rochester will soon have the option to streamline their check-in process through the use of electronic kiosks. 

More than 50 kiosks have been installed throughout the campus in preparation for Mayo's launch of the Epic health record system.

The machines, already in use at Mayo Clinic Health System sites in Minnesota and Wisconsin, are designed to give patients a quick, secure way to check in, update personal information and pay account balances.

Dr. Steve Ommen, medical director for the Mayo Clinic Center for Connected Care, said the kiosks are just one part of the clinic's new digital check-in process. Beginning this weekend, patients will also have the opportunity to begin entering information into an online portal ahead of their visit.

"Patients can answer pre-appointment questionnaires and sign authorizations using their computers or mobile devices at home," Dr. Ommen, a cardiologist, told Med City Beat via email. "Once eCheck-in is completed, the system generates a barcode and patients can scan that at the kiosk or let staff know they’ve completed eCheck-In."

Mayo emphasizes that the kiosks are meant to support — not replace — front desk staff. Patients will still have the option to check in at the desk when they arrive for an appointment. Volunteers and staff will also be available to assist patients with any questions they have when using the kiosks.

According to Dr. Ommen, all the kiosks being used by Mayo have been manufactured with a high level of screen protection to keep patients’ information secure. They are also ADA-compliant.

The kiosks are just one component of Mayo's rollout of Epic. The $1.5 billion project, which is set to go live in Rochester on Saturday, will replace the organization's three electronic health systems with a single, enterprise-wide electronic medical record and billing system. The Epic transition is one of the largest undertakings in Mayo history — with tens of thousands of employees being trained on the new system.

Cover photo via Mayo Clinic