Little Clinic Check-In for Kroger

Little Clinic – Kroger Kiosk for Patient Check-In

By  | June 13, 2024
little clinic kroger kiosk

Little Clinic Patient Check-In

It was good to see new patient check-in kiosk at the Little Clinic in King Soopers the other day.  Kroger has always been a leader in technology having installed DMVNow kiosks and these patient check-in kiosks. Good illustration of the blending of two verticals (Grocery and Healthcare).

My King Soopers used to have an Elo AIO countertop but for some reason it never really seemed to communicate “Start Here” like this new pedestal does (Wallabye).  Sometimes pedestals work better albeit they might cost a few hundred dollars more. Better to work and create happier customers (and increase loyalty)

Couple of notes about this one:

  • Started in Georgia and going out to all locations.
  • We talked to the medical people there and asked the usual questions
    • How many customers use the kiosk —  All of them
    • How do they use the kiosk?
      • Many schedule appointment on web and get qr code that they then scan at the kiosk to check in
      • Some schedule right them (walk in)
    • Do they help you?  — YES, all the usual requisite information is already gathered and collated. We can focus on the patient health concern.
    • Is the Storm device working?  —  we tested and YES
    • Do people use it — YES
    • Who does the app?  — we think web app special for Little Clinic
    • What’s the biggest complaint?  — some say it is too short
    • Any improvements you would suggest? —  Yes, add a tilt mechanism to the touchscreen
    • Is it ok to turn it off and watch it boot up – YES — employee quickly did that
    • Fast boot up and Android. No big surprise there. Elo is a leader in Android

Background

  • The Little Clinic operates 225 locations, providing immediate medical care inside select grocery stores. These clinics are staffed by licensed and Board-certified healthcare providers. It’s a convenient option for those seeking accessible and affordable healthcare services.
  • As of the latest available data, there are 3,242 Kroger-owned stores in the United States. Kroger operates under various banners, and these stores are spread across multiple states, predominantly in the Midwestern and Southern regions. The state with the most Kroger stores is California, with 303 locations
  • Website for Little Clinic
  • Find a Little Clinic Location

Little Clinic Photo Gallery

Related Links

Patient Check-in Kiosks Epic Essentia

Check-in kiosks Epic Essentia

Check-In Kiosks For Ely Essentia and Epic

Nice article.  Rob Davenport, the operations director for the Essentia clinics in Ely and International Falls, stands next to Essentia’s new check-in kiosk at the Ely clinic.

ELY- Visitors to the Essentia Health Clinic in Ely will notice a large change at the check-in desk. Instead of a person, a large green countertop kiosk now takes up the center of the reception desk.

“A person is still there,” said Tonya Loken, the Community Relations Director of Essentia. “Patients can still talk to a receptionist if they want. What we’ve done with the new kiosks is to add more ways to check in.”

Patients coming to the clinic now have three ways to check in: through the new kiosk, through the MyChart app on a patient’s smart device, and through an iPad which will connect a patient via video to a receptionist.

“We now have different ways to check in for different people,” Loken explained. “We’ve reduced lines, saved time, and provided our patients with a choice.”

At the Ely clinic, while the kiosk is eye-catching, the smaller iPad at the clinic is easy to miss. The Timberjay tested both the kiosk and the iPad check-in. The iPad connected to a live receptionist in seconds with good video and audio quality. The kiosk, on the other hand, was mounted a bit on the high side for those of shorter stature, making the screen difficult to use and read.

Zero jobs lost

The Timberjay asked Essentia if the new kiosks would displace any clinic employees.

“Essentia is a people-oriented health care organization,” Loken said. “Zero jobs will be eliminated. A person will still be there at reception for those who want to talk to a person.” The catch is that the person at the reception desk may be on the other end of the reception counter iPad.

“No one is going to lose their job because of the kiosks.”

Slow roll-out

Essentia investigated check-in kiosks for its clinics last year. “We talked about implementing this system for about two months,” wrote Essentia Media Relations Specialist Tony Matt in an email. “We then ran two pilot programs.”

The first pilot was in Fargo; it started in February and lasted two months. It was followed by a second pilot in March in Essentia’s eastern market, which lasted one month. The pilots tested kiosks made by Olea Kiosks Inc. of Cerritos, Calif. Olea manufactures kiosks that are compatible with Epic and MyChart, the medical records software that Essentia uses.  [You can see Olea at upcoming UGM in Madison]

Essentia considered the pilots to be successful. “We then decided to move forward with a full rollout after that,” said Matt.

Essentia Health plans to place check-in kiosks at all 79 clinics, including its new clinic in Staples, which opened this week. The health system hopes to have the new kiosks installed in all of its clinics before the end of September.

For more information contact James Walker on LinkedIn


Related Links

Patient kiosk Olea Epic

Patient kiosk Olea Epic

Healthcare AI and DOJ Purdue Pharma

AI Healthcare

AI Under Fire in Healthcare by DOJ

From Bloomberg Law

Summary

  • Practice Fusion and Purdue Pharma case: The article describes how a federal prosecutor in Vermont uncovered a kickback scheme between an electronic health record vendor (Practice Fusion) and a pharmaceutical company (Purdue Pharma) that used AI to prompt doctors to prescribe addictive painkillers. This case resulted in criminal and civil settlements for both companies in 2020.
  • DOJ’s probes of AI tools: The article reports that DOJ investigators are now subpoenaing other pharmaceuticals and digital health companies to learn more about their use of AI tools that match patients with certain drugs and devices. The article cites sources who say that the probes are still in early stages and may be part of the Biden administration’s initiative to regulate healthcare AI.
  • Challenges and risks of AI tools: The article explains that the use of AI tools in patient records can have both benefits and harms, depending on how they are designed and implemented. The article quotes former prosecutors and industry lawyers who say that the AI tools can be difficult to trace and monitor, and can potentially lead to anti-kickback and false claims violations if they are manipulated or influenced by financial incentives.
  • Future of AI enforcement: The article speculates that the DOJ’s enforcement of AI tools will likely increase in the coming years, as the technology becomes more sophisticated and widespread. The article also suggests that healthcare companies should be careful about how they structure their AI tools and their relationships with business partners to avoid becoming targets of prosecutors.

 

Patient Check In Kiosk News November

Patient Kiosk News

Patient Check In Kiosk News – October 2023

Patient Kiosk News

Most recent stories in Patient Kiosk

Patient Check In ADA – Quest Diagnostics Found Liable

Accessibility Kiosks Legal News

From KI – October 26th 10am – The courts find for ACB in suit against Quest.  The case involved injunctive relief. So, that means an order telling quest to fix it and attorney fees for the plaintiff. We are checking with ACB to make sure we are identifying the correct unit (aka unit violating ADA). As for an appeal, it would go to the Ninth Circuit, which tends to be more on the side of persons with disabilities than not. We imagine there could be post verdict motions. As far as cost goes, plaintiffs would be entitled to their attorney fees and the defendant would of course have to pay their own attorney fees as well. A relevant blog entry is hereJust What Is a Sales Establishment Anyway per Title III of the ADA?

Thanks to Bill for alerting us. He is a great and recommended resource.  William D. Goren, Esq., J.D., LL.M., Attorney and Consultant, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), https://www.understandingtheada.com/

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Following a week-long bench trial in Los Angeles, a federal court in California found Quest Diagnostics in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and permanently enjoined Quest from continuing to violate the ADA.

Beginning in 2016, Quest Diagnostics began to install self-service kiosks at its Patient Service Centers, which allow patients to, among other things, check in for phlebotomy appointments in a private and independent manner. Following complaints from ACB’s members that these kiosks as designed prevent people who are blind from accessing their services, ACB joined a civil rights complaint in federal court alleging that Quest’s kiosks deprived members of the blind community full and equal enjoyment of Quest’s services and failed to provide effective communication.

quest kiosk

quest kiosk

The Court ruled in favor of ACB and a nationwide class of blind and low-vision Quest patients. The court found that Quest violated Title III of the ADA in that Quest failed to provide people who are blind with full and equal enjoyment of Quest’s services and facilities because of their disability.

“Self-service kiosks are being used more and more in many aspects of daily public life,” said Dan Spoone, Executive Director for the American Council of the Blind. “The Court’s decision that Quest violated the ADA and that the check-in services of these kiosks must be accessible to people who are blind is a significant step towards ensuring that the rights to full and equal enjoyment and effective communication are protected.”

Deb Cook Lewis, ACB’s president, added, “Although the ADA is more than 30 years old, people who are blind are still forced to fight for full and equal access to healthcare. This judgment sends a clear message that full and equal enjoyment is required by law, and health care providers must ensure access for people with disabilities.”

This litigation has been led by ACB’s counsel at Nye Sterling Hale Miller and Sweet and at Handley Farah & Anderson.

Matthew Handley, one of ACB’s attorneys in the litigation, added, “Touchscreen kiosks are an ever-increasing aspect of our daily lives – this decision ensures that accessibility of those kiosks will need to be front and center in the minds of every company wishing to make use of self-service technology.”

About the American Council of the Blind

The American Council of the Blind is a national member-driven consumer organization representing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. During the organization’s 60-year history, ACB has become a leader in national, state, local, and even international advocacy efforts. With 66 affiliates, ACB strives to increase independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve the quality of life for all people who are blind and visually impaired. For more information, visit ACB’s website.

About Handley Farah & Anderson

Handley Farah & Anderson are lawyers who seek to improve the world. Based in Washington, D.C., they fight for: workers deprived of wages, consumers deceived about products, tenants denied access to housing, parents deprived of adequate parental leave, persons with disabilities denied access, and women and communities of color subject to discrimination.

SOURCE American Council of the Blind

More Background

ID Card Scanning

Always a pain here is a video on how Acuant used in Quest kiosk

Quest Diagnostics Streamlines Patient Check-in with Aila’s Interactive Kiosk

Quest Diagnostics selected Aila’s Interactive Kiosk as a rugged, adaptable self-service platform to create its next-generation patient check-in experience. Aila’s expertise in patient check-in for enterprise healthcare providers gave Quest the confidence that Aila could provide the technology and support to deploy a major new experience in its patient service centers. “Aila was a known solution that would work for us,” said Congersky, “this helped us avoid a lengthy product exploration process.”

The Interactive Kiosk was able to save phlebotomists’ time by automating a range of customer experiences that previously required face-to-face interaction:

  • ID and insurance card scanning
  • Smartphone scanning for pre-registered patients
  • Digital check-in and wait list queuing

The Interactive Kiosk also provided a platform that was adaptable for Quest’s evolving check-in experience. This includes, a way for patients to check in for someone else, such as a child or parent, schedule service times on-site, and give patients the option to wait in their vehicle after checking in where they’ll receive a text message when it’s their turn.

In combination with Aila’s Interactive Kiosk and floor stand, Quest further improved the check-in experience by developing a welcome center that also included wall-mounted Interactive Kiosks. This helps guide patients to the self-service center and provides a welcoming environment to check in. Having a range of mounting options to choose from further illustrates Aila’s ability to enable ideal solutions across thousands of locations with differing layouts.


More Posts

Patient Kiosk News Newsbits for October 2023

Patient Kiosk News

CTA Stance on FTC Proposed Changes

Protecting Health Data Privacy: CTA’s Stance on FTC’s Proposed Changes

Editors Note: nice article by Rachel Nemeth explaining the CTA opposition or comments on the FTC NPRM

Rachel Nemeth

Rachel Nemeth

Senior Director Regulatory Affairs at Consumer Technology Association

In mid-May, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed modifications to the Health Breach Notification Rule, sparking an important discussion on health data privacy. As North America’s largest technology trade association, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) stands committed to protecting personal health data while supporting innovation. However, certain aspects of the proposed rule have raised concerns.

Some background first.

The Health Breach Notification Rule requires certain entities (like businesses and non-profits) that are not covered by HIPAA (which covers most hospitals, doctors’ offices and insurance companies) to notify customers and the FTC if there’s a breach of health data information.

Congress directed the FTC to implement this Rule via the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act), but the recent proposed changes extend beyond Congress’ originally intended scope. The fundamental purpose of the Rule is to facilitate timely notification of significant health data breaches – not broadly regulate health data.

CTA responded to the FTC.

While CTA shares the FTC’s priority of protecting personal health data privacy and security, we find certain proposals impractical, unhelpful for consumers, and unduly burdensome. This week, CTA officially responded to the FTC on these unnecessary proposals.

Our full comments are available here, but below is a summary of what we said:

Scope of Covered Parties should be limited.

The scope of the entities covered by the Rule should be limited, consistent with the original intent of the HITECH Act. This means excluding merchants who sell diverse products, but including apps that collect health data from various sources. Additionally, exclude service providers like cloud computing, analytics, and advertising, especially if they are not intentionally handling covered health data.

Scope of a “Breach of Security” should be narrowed.

The Rule should focus on unauthorized “acquisition” of covered health data, excluding accidental or well-intentioned unauthorized access or sharing where the information isn’t actually taken by a third party. This avoids reporting minor incidents and wasting resources. CTA supports not defining “authorization” as it goes beyond the Rule’s purpose. CTA also recommends adding exceptions for “unauthorized” data taking, similar to HIPAA and state privacy laws, to enhance regulatory clarity.

Arbitrary reporting timelines and triggers should be avoided.

The Commission should replace fixed timelines for reporting breaches based on when a company finds a potential security issue. Instead, reporting should happen when a company reasonably confirms an actual security breach and should offer more time for certain incidents. This approach decreases unnecessary reports, lets companies focus on investigating possible issues, and aligns better with state data breach reporting laws.

Notice procedures should be simplified.

Simplifying the consumer notice form and content ensures actionable information reaches consumers efficiently. Streamlining email notifications and avoiding speculative breach risk requirements improves communication clarity.

In conclusion, CTA remains committed to working with the FTC in creating a balanced, practical, and consumer-focused Health Breach Notification Rule. One of our goals is to safeguard personal health data privacy and security while fostering innovation and economic growth. Considering industry feedback and recommendations will ensure a Rule that enhances consumer trust, protects data, and supports the continued growth of the technology industry.

Together, we can build a secure and innovative digital future for all.

Published by

Rachel Nemeth
Senior Director Regulatory Affairs at Consumer Technology Association

ADA Regulations Update – U.S. Access Board and ANSI

KIosk Regulations

ADA Regulations Update June 2023

June 15, 2023 — New updated dates for US Access Board NPRMs for EV and POS. Also, ANSI has just released their new EV standards, which include ADA considerations.  Thanks to Steve Taylor with TaylorPOS for reminding us of the NPRM dates.

Accessibility Guidelines for Self-Service Transaction Machines

This rulemaking would amend the Architectural and Transportation Compliance Board’s existing accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), located at 36 CFR part 1191, to include guidelines for the accessibility of fixed self-service transaction machines, self-service kiosks, information transaction machines, and point-of-sale devices.  The U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Justice are expected, via separate rulemakings, to adopt these amended guidelines as enforceable standards for devices and equipment covered by the ADA. RIN: 3014-AA44

Timetable:

ACTION DATE FR CITE
ANPRM 09/21/2022 87 FR 57662
ANPRM Comment Period End 11/21/2022
NPRM 12/00/2023

Accessibility Guidelines for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are becoming commonplace with the rising production and use of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are nearly 50,000 public EV charging stations with almost 127,000 charging ports across the country.  The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law in November 2021, allocates $7.5 billion to construct a national network of 500,000 EV charging stations to accelerate the adoption of EVs.  It is expected that the installation and use of EV charging stations will continue to expand; however, at present, there are no federal regulations specifying accessibility requirements for EV charging stations to ensure that they are accessible to and useable by persons with disabilities. The Access Board thus intends to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to supplement its Accessibility Guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) with scoping and technical requirements for electric vehicle charging stations. RIN: 3014-AA48

Timetable:

ACTION DATE FR CITE
NPRM 07/00/2023

ANSI Publishes Roadmap of Standards and Codes for Electric Vehicles at Scale

New York, June 14, 2023: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) announced today the publication of the Roadmap of Standards and Codes for Electric Vehicles at Scale developed by the Institute’s Electric Vehicles Standards Panel (EVSP). The roadmap’s primary focus is on light-duty, on-road plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) that are recharged via a connection to the electrical grid, as well as the supporting charging infrastructure needed to power them. Medium and heavy-duty EVs are also covered, as is wireless charging. A total of 37 standardization gaps are identified with corresponding recommendations across the topical areas of vehicle systems, charging infrastructure, grid integration, and cybersecurity. It is hoped that the roadmap will see broad adoption by the user community and will facilitate a more coherent and coordinated approach to the future development of standards for EVs.

The Kiosk Manufacturer Association (KMA) is an Associate Sponsor. (UL is the premier sponsor)

ADA Excerpt:

(c) The American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and implementing regulations, apply to EV charging stations by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability by public and private entities. EV charging stations must comply with applicable accessibility standards adopted by the Department of Transportation into its ADA regulations (49 CFR part 37) in 2006, and adopted by the Department of Justice into its ADA regulations (28 CFR parts 35 and 36) in 2010. 45 The U.S. Access Board, an independent federal agency that issues accessibility guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA), Architectural Barriers Act(ABA), Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other laws, has provided a technical assistance document “Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations” 46 to assist in the design and construction of electric vehicle (EV)
charging stations that are accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. In the Fall 2022 Unified Agenda and at recent Board Meetings, the Access Board announced that it anticipates a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for EVSE towards the end of the summer of 2023. Noting the expected continuing expansion and use of EV charging stations, the Board noted in relevant part that: [T]here are no federal regulations specifying accessibility requirements for EV charging stations to ensure that they are accessible to and useable by persons with disabilities. The Access Board thus intends to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to supplement its Accessibility Guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) with scoping and technical requirements for electric vehicle charging stations.

47 44 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-03500/p-385 45 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-03500/p-465 46 The Access Board, “Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations” last updated 7/21/2022, Accessed 3/13/2023 https://www.access-board.gov/tad/ev/ 47 The Access Board, “Accessibility Guidelines for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations,” RIN: 3014-AA48, Fall 2022,Accessed 2/13/2023 https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202210&RIN=3014-AA48
ANSI EVSP Roadmap of Standards and Codes for Electric Vehicles at Scale Page 101 of 170

The DOE Clean Cities Coalition Network provides best practices for installing ADA-compliant EV charging stations. 48
In addition, the California Division of the State Architect has developed accessibility requirements for EV charging, which are part of the California Building Code. 49
The 2021 International Building Code® (IBC®), section 1107, provides that no less than 5% of vehicle spaces at an EV charging site, and not fewer than one space for each type of EV charging system, shall be accessible. 50 This is not required for R-2, R-3, and R-4 occupancies. In terms of standards activity, ICC A117.1—2017 Accessible And Usable Buildings And Facilities, section 502.11, provides requirements that EV charging stations comply with requirements for operable parts (card readers) and are free of obstructions between the charging station and the adjacent parking space. 51 As noted, there is some policy activity anticipated. At this time, no codes and standards gap has been identified.

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Screen Reader Software for ADA

screenreader software

Vispero/TPGi Listed in AWS Marketplace for the U.S. Intelligence Community

Couple of news items for screen reader news, both from Vispero, the leader with JAWS Kiosk software. From PRnewswire — Vispero/TPGi Software now available to 18 U.S. Intelligence Agencies in AWS Marketplace

JAWS Kiosk AWS Marketplace

JAWS Kiosk AWS Marketplace

CLEARWATER, Fla., June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Vispero® and TPGi®, global leaders in accessibility software and services, today announced the availability of their offerings in the AWS Marketplace for the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). The AWS Marketplace for the U.S. IC offerings includes a broad array of common software infrastructure, developer tools, and business software products that support the unique needs of the U.S. IC through improved security, increased mission impact, and cost savings. TPGi’s Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) software allows companies of all sizes to manage accessibility programs via one powerful integrated dashboard and to access a central repository of over 600 KnowledgeBase articles from worldwide experts in accessibility.

“We are pleased to offer our software in the AWS Marketplace for the U.S. IC to help government agencies assure their digital assets are usable by all employees and citizens while complying with Section 508 and accessibility standards,” said Matt Ater, Vice President of Vispero.AWS Marketplace for the U.S. IC provides the same purchasing convenience, open and transparent license terms and conditions, and a variety of pricing models, including hourly usage and annual subscription, as the commercial AWS Marketplace. It also supports Bring-Your-Own-License (BYOL) so that agencies can more easily migrate existing software licenses and applications to the cloud. For more information on AWS Marketplace for the U.S. IC, contact [email protected].

About Vispero

Vispero is a global leader in assistive technology products for those with vision impairments. Freedom Scientific, TPGi, Enhanced Vision, and Optelec, all Vispero brands, have a long history of innovation for customers with accessibility needs. Today our product portfolio is considered one of the most diverse and reliable on the market.

About TPGi

TPGi provides digital accessibility software and services to help businesses reduce risk, grow revenue, and improve user experience. With over 20 years of experience and 21 employees actively influencing accessibility standards on the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), TPGi offers the most robust knowledge base and accessibility expertise in the industry as well as award-winning self-service kiosk software. Our tailored approach has enabled 1000+ customers to achieve the best outcomes for their businesses, their employees, and their consumers.

SOURCE TPGi LLC


Disability:IN show in Orlando in July

jaws kiosk

jaws kiosk

Join Vispero® and TPGi at the #DisabilityInclusion event of the year. You can stop by our booth and check out Matt Ater speak during “Creating A Culture Beat: Drumming Up Support for Digital Accessibility.”

We can’t wait to meet you there!

Learn more about Disability:IN 2023: https://lnkd.in/gEBhNDWT

JAWS Kiosk Brochure Digital 2022-compressed


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