Location limited check-in kiosk method and apparatus

Abstract

A method and system for helping a patient check in for a scheduled activity wherein activities occur proximate corresponding locations, respectively, the method comprising the steps of providing a check in resource at the second location for checking clients in for the second subset of activities, associating at least a first electronic kiosk with the first subset activities, positioning the first kiosk at the first location for use by clients to check in for first subset activities, via the first kiosk, receiving identifying information from a first client, identifying at least a first currently scheduled activity for the first client, determining that the first currently scheduled activity is one of the second subset activities and via the first kiosk, indicating that the first client cannot check in for the first currently scheduled activity via the first kiosk.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for helping a patient check in for a scheduled activity at a health care facility wherein scheduled activities occur proximate corresponding locations, wherein patients use wireless communication devices (WCDs) to communicate with a wireless communication system and a database, the system comprising:
 a wireless communications network in communication with a processor and a memory storing a database, wherein the processor is programmed to:
 receive identifying information from a patient via a WCD used by the patient; 
 retrieve data from the database to identify a scheduled activity for the patient; 
 determine a location of the scheduled activity; 
 identify a location of the WCD; and 
 indicate via the WCD the location for the patient to check in for the scheduled activity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communications network comprises a plurality of wireless access points, and the processor is programmed to identify the location of the WCD by triangulation. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 receive identifying information from a second patient via a second WCD used by the second patient;   retrieve data from the patient appointment database to identify a scheduled activity for the second patient;   determine a location for the scheduled activity for the second patient;   identify the location of the second WCD; and   indicate via the second WCD the location that the second patient must be at to check in for the scheduled activity for the second patient.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to retrieve way finder data from the database to provide directions to the second location on the WCD 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the directions comprise a graphical map. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to calculate a travel time for the patient between location of the WCD and the location of the scheduled activity. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to calculate an estimated patient time of arrival at the location of the scheduled activity. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further programmed to display the estimated patient time of arrival to at least one of the patient using the WCD to check in for a scheduled activity, and a receptionist. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further programmed to cancel an appointment from the database if the estimated patient time of arrival is after the scheduled activity and to notify at least one of the patient and a receptionist that the appointment has been cancelled. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to identify a resource for the scheduled appointment from the database. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the identified resource comprises at least one of equipment, an examination room, and a specialist. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to provide a check out function for the patient at the WCD. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to prompt the patient to access at least one of personal information, billing data, and scheduling data through the WCD. 
     
     
         14 . A method for helping a patient check in for a scheduled activity at a health care facility wherein scheduled activities occur proximate predetermined locations, and wherein patients use wireless communication devices (WCDs) to communicate with a wireless communication system and a database storing patient data, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a wireless location determining system for identifying the location of WCDs in the health care facility;   receiving patient identifying information from a patient using a WCD;   retrieving data from the database to identify a scheduled activity for the patient;   determining a location corresponding to check in for the scheduled activity;   identifying the location of the WCD;   indicating to the patient via the WCD the location to check in for scheduled activity and prompting the patient to check in for the scheduled activity at the identified location.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including the steps of:
 receiving identifying information from a second patient via a second WCD used by the second patient;   identifying a scheduled activity for the second patient;   determining a location corresponding to the scheduled activity for the second patient;   identifying the location of the second WCD;   indicating to the second patient via the second WCD the location of the scheduled activity and prompting the second patient to check in for the scheduled activity at the identified location.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of accessing way finder data in the database to provide directions to the second location. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of calculating a travel time for the patient between the location of the WCD and the location of the scheduled activity, 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of calculating an estimated patient time of arrival at the location of the scheduled activity, and displaying the estimated patient time of arrival to at least one of the patient using the WCD and a receptionist. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of calculating an estimated patient time of arrival at the location of the scheduled activity, canceling the scheduled activity from the database if the estimated patient time of arrival is after the appointment time, and notifying at least one of the patient and a receptionist that the appointment has been cancelled. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of identifying a resource corresponding to the scheduled activity, and wherein the identified resource comprises at least one of an examination room, a specialist, and equipment.