Going to the doctor isn’t always a fun experience. Gagging on a Popsicle stick, getting pricked for a blood test, sitting in the waiting room surrounded by coughers and sneezers is definitely no picnic. Even worse, you may be there for a while – according to a study done by Vitals.com, the average patient waits about 20 minutes before a doctor’s office visit.
That may change soon in your doctor or urgent care clinic’s waiting room when you use a service called QLess. With this technology, service providers set up a computer or kiosk in the waiting room. Patients secure a place in line by entering their cell phone numbers into the system when they arrive and choose what kind of mobile alert they’d like to receive.
QLess then tells the patient how long the wait is and pushes periodic updates via SMS text or a phone call. That includes a final notification when it’s almost their turn. If a user leaves and isn’t nearby, they can then push back their place in line.
Originally intended for the theme park and dining industry, QLess is user friendly for both administrators and patients. No app downloading or robust software is required. It also provides a valuable analytics component for the admin to see not only how long patients have to wait, but how many patients they lose during the wait compared to average return rates.
Allowing patients to choose how they prefer to wait for services – reading a magazine in the waiting room or running an errand – gives them more flexibility and decreases their wait time.
This new communication method is just another way new communicative technology is improving healthcare customer service. For more information on how new forms of communication are improving healthcare, contact Wax Custom Communications at 305-350-5700 or visit waxcom.com.
