New self check-in service set to enhance patient experience at Wakefield Community Diagnostic Centre | News

Pictured left to right: Caroline Clifton (Radiology Clerical Officer), Sarah Hopkins (Radiology Reception Supervisor),  Gemma Hemingway (Radiology Patient Services Manager) and Gareth Cinnamon (Deputy Head of Digital Systems)

The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust is pleased to announce the successful implementation of a cutting-edge self check-in service for patients attending radiology appointments at Wakefield Community Diagnostic Centre. Funded by the Yorkshire Imaging Collaborative, this innovative technology is designed to significantly enhance the patient experience while streamlining administrative processes.

The introduction of this particular self check-in service is unique within the region and represents a part of a broader digital transformation effort within the Trust. By integrating robotic process automation with the Trust’s Computed Radiology Information System (CRIS), the new system allows patients to check-in for their radiology appointments quickly and independently. This reduces the workload on the administrative team, enabling them to focus on other essential radiology administrative functions.

The Yorkshire Imaging Collaborative (YIC) plays a pivotal role in transforming radiology services across the region. By integrating medical imaging across YIC hospitals, the collaborative ensures that patients receive consistent, high-quality radiology services, regardless of the hospital they attend.

Gemma Hemingway, Radiology Patient Services Manager at the Community Diagnostic Centre, expressed her enthusiasm about the project: “We started to scope out the project in October 2023, collaborating with NDL Software Limited and our Trust’s digital colleagues to create a bespoke solution that would best support our radiology patients. The technology uses an e-form and robotic process automation to seamlessly integrate with CRIS, allowing for efficient patient check-ins. After extensive testing, we are thrilled that the system is now live and being well-received by our patients, who are already opting to use this new facility since its implementation last week.”

NDL played a crucial role in delivering the project, working alongside the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust to meet the unique specifications and requirements of the check-in service. The NDL Deliver team developed the service using the Evolve Digital Transformation Platform, and after successful user acceptance testing, the Trust rolled out a purpose-built solution designed to streamline the arrival process and improve patient experience.

Neil Harris, Digital Programme Manager, commented on the project’s success: “This project represents a significant achievement in the deployment of robotic process automation technology, which allows us to automate repetitive administrative tasks. By doing so, we can release valuable time back to frontline staff, enabling them to focus on activities that have a direct impact on patient care. This contributes to enhancing both the quality of care and the overall patient experience through digitally-led functionality.

“The aim is to ensure our patients have trust and confidence in the services delivered by Mid Yorkshire. We are relatively early on in our automation journey, but by optimising these technologies we can deliver transformative change across the places we serve, for the benefit of our patients and our colleagues.”

For more information about NDL, please visit www.NDL.co.uk. 

To learn more about the Yorkshire Imaging Collaborative, visit https://yorkshireimaging.nhs.uk.