EMIS Access
Book appointments at GP surgeries over the Internet
Online appointment booking with EMIS Access
The award-winning* EMIS Access enables patients to book appointments at their GP surgery over the internet. Patients can view, book, or cancel appointments online and often find it very useful for those times when the practice is closed or telephone lines are busy.
The website has been carefully designed for ease of use for all types of people and as many different browsers as possible. The project is proving particularly popular with the 'silver surfers', as internet enabled pensioners have no difficulty using the easy to follow screens. It is even possible to use EMIS Access from some mobile phones.
Future EMIS Access developments include booking appointments through digital TV, which is currently being piloted in South Yorkshire, as well as via touch-screen kiosks situated within the surgery.
Additional online features
The popularity of EMIS Access online appointment booking has led to extra features being introduced to help patients with busy lifestyles communicate more easily with their GP practice, as well as free up the reception telephone from routine enquiries, allowing them to be managed when the practice is quieter.
Repeat prescription ordering
The latest EMIS Access feature allows patients to request repeat prescriptions from the comfort of their own home. Without visiting the practice, patients can use the internet to quickly order any repeat prescriptions that are due. EMIS Access delivers the request directly to the practice, and once processed, patients can simply collect the prescription from the practice.
Change of address
Patients can update personal details via EMIS Access. The change of address facility enables patients to add or update address and contact details including home and mobile telephone numbers or email addresses. Changes made through this service are subject to authorisation by the practice.
Secure messaging
EMIS Access messaging enables patients to quickly and securely contact the practice. Best suited to non-urgent enquiries, secure messaging enables a short message to be submitted direct to your practice, allowing a designated staff member to respond when the practice is quieter.
Examples of routine queries include surgery opening hours, eligibility for flu vaccinations or details of the next asthma clinic. Unlike email, messages are encrypted for patient confidentiality.
New patient pre-registration
New patients can pre-register their details online. Pre-registration helps to ensure that all personal information is correct and saves administration time with the new record populated from the data received - saving time re-keying patient information.
Once the registration has been accepted, patients can visit the surgery and simply confirm their details.
Not all practices will want to offer every EMIS Access feature, so each module can be turned on or off at will using a configuration option within the EMIS system.
Available to EMIS LV and PCS practices
EMIS Access is on general release to all practices using EMIS LV5.2 and PCS. However only appointment booking is available to EMIS PCS practices, repeat prescription ordering and the other modules are currently under development.
Case studies
The University Health Service in Sheffield is just one UK practice that is making the most of EMIS Access. Forty-three per cent of all appointments are now booked online - with 1,600 appointments booked electronically in one month alone. Click here to read more about Sheffield University .
Almost 1,000 patients at Lime Tree Surgery, Worthing are already taking advantage of the new EMIS Access service, and the freedom it provides those with a busy lifestyle. Click here to read more about Lime Tree Surgery .
At Marple Cottage Surgery, Stockport, more than 10 per cent of patient appointments made each week are booked online using EMIS Access. Click here to read more about Marple Cottage .
Further information
For further information, please click here .
