Hospital Payment Kiosks

Northwick Park Hospital, part of the London North West Healthcare NHS Trust, are now able to capture lost prescription payment revenue and, in turn, generate a substantial income stream. With the installation of an EPN Prescription Payment Kiosk, they’ve been able to successfully implement a simple, robust payment system for staff and patients to follow.

Challenge

Like many A&E Departments across the NHS, Northwick Park Hospital were losing revenue every day because patients weren’t being charged the standard price for their prescriptions, instead receiving them for free. Without a payment facility available or a reliable system in place – especially during the ‘Out of Hours’ service when the onsite Pharmacy is shut – patients would normally leave the department with their prescriptions for free. The challenge Northwick Park faced was to try and generate some much needed income, and raise awareness to combat the culture of giving prescriptions away for free.

Solution

EasyPay Network has installed a touch screen payment kiosk into the Accident and Emergency Department. The kiosk is used by patients to pay for their prescriptions. The self-service kiosk accepts credit/debit cards, contactless and Apple pay.

The kiosks are very easy to use, for both patients and the department. The kiosks represent a cost effective way to increase our revenue collection for prescription payments.

Matthew Pomeroy – Clinical General Manager

Goals

The main goal for the Trust was to generate income and reduce budget spend by capturing lost revenue. For a 12-hour period when the onsite Pharmacy shut, the normal practice was to dispense prescriptions free of charge. The Trust wanted to be more compliant and improve operational efficiencies in this time period. In addition, they wanted to reduce bottlenecks and the number of patients who continually used the service on a regular basis, knowing they’d receive their prescriptions for no charge.

Process

If a patient requires a prescription, the Hospital staff member directs them to use the payment kiosk. Once paid, the kiosk will print out a two-part receipt as proof of purchase. The patient then returns to the member of staff, and they will receive their prescription in exchange for the receipt. It’s a simple, yet extremely effective process, allowing the Trust to capture revenue at ease, without staff needing to be involved in the payment process.

Results

The kiosk at Northwick Park Hospital has helped them generate substantial revenue. In the final quarter of 2017, the kiosk has generated approximately £2000 per month in Prescription sales.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust add value and flexibility for patients purchasing baby scan pictures across three of their sites.

Challenge

The way NHS hospitals handle payments is changing. Patients demand better facilities, faster and more convenient. Hospitals demand safer and more efficient methods, which in turn can help to generate more income.

NHS Maternity Ultrasound departments have seen many changes in recent years, especially when it comes to charging for scan pictures. Budget cuts has put many departments under strain to self-generate added income.  Adapting to the expected pressure preserves the sale of scan pictures as a valued service.

Solution

We advised Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust to introduce a simple to use EPN self-service payment kiosk with a simple front screen.

Once we agreed to work together and install three kiosks across three sites – Pinderfield, Pontefract and Dewsbury – the EasyPay installation team visited each hospital and did in-depth site surveys. Liaising with the individual Estates teams, locations were all agreed, signal and power supply tested, and installation and training dates confirmed all to ensure a smooth installation day.

Alongside this we offered to design a bespoke photo mount to add value to product and service. EasyPay’s creatives worked hand-in-hand with the Trust to design the bespoke photo mount. We printed a large quantity and store them free of charge ensuring orders are delivered to the department within 24hrs.

Goals

The goals for Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust was to offer pregnant ladies an easy patient journey, increase value and to update their current method of payment across their three hospital sites.

Process

The kiosk takes payments for the scan pictures and issues a receipt. The patient takes the reciept to the Sonographer and exchanges it for their scan picture. Alongside this we offered to design a bespoke photomount to add value to product and service.

General Office is responsible for emptying the kiosk. They are thrilled with the audit system, which reports all sales on the kiosk in real time.

The kiosk works so well now we can accept notes and card payments, and we don’t have to spend lots of time counting change. It’s so much quicker with the audit print-out as we can match the sales up much faster

Emily Goodall – General Office

Results

The EasyPay Network Service Kiosk Technology allows patients freedom to choose and pay for their scan pictures without the assistance of a member of staff. 

John Radcliffe Hospital, part of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, has welcomed our latest payment kiosk into their Maternity Ultrasound Department. 

Challenge

In 2009 John Radcliff Hospital, Oxford approached us for a solution for taking payment for the maternity ultrasound scan pictures. They wanted to eliminated staff handling money and in addition save time and resources within the department, allowing staff to concentrate on their specific roles.  A first generation kiosk was installed and has been successful within the department.

Solution

We approached the Trust with details of our new contactless 7^th generation payment kiosk. The kiosk has touchscreen technology, flexible payment options including contactless and Apple Pay, full audit trail, easy patient journey and outstanding support package with on and off-site access.

Goals

The goals for Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust was to offer pregnant ladies an easy patient journey, increase value and to update their current method of payment across their three hospital sites.

We are really pleased with the kiosk and the service so far! It has made our staff’s lives much easier. The patients are very happy and comfortable using the kiosks.

Honor Stobart – Maternity Outpatients Manage

Results

Contactless and Apple Pay is a great success, with over 50% of the card payments using the contactless facility.

A word from EasyPay’s MD:

“John Radcliffe Hospital have been a long and established costumer so I was delighted to have upgraded the Trust with a new generation kiosk to help maximise resources within the department, while at the same time helping to generate income.

 Studies have shown that transactions performed through a kiosk can cost a tenth of what they would have cost, had a member of staff dealt with the transaction. Self-service has proved time and time again that it can deliver a substantial return on investment very early on after roll-out because kiosks can cut costs while increasing profits, while simultaneously improving back-office operational efficiencies. Put simply, it helps hospitals and health centres to save money and deliver a better service.”

Ben Wileman – EasyPay Network Managing Director