METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING A PATRON'S WAITING TIME AT A WALK-IN FACILITY

• US 20080197984A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Michael Peters, Kathleen Connell Peters
• Original Assignee: David Michael Peters, Kathleen Connell Peters
• Inventors: Peters, David Michael, Peters, Kathleen Connell
• Application Number:
  US11/767,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20080197984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/286.06
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere

Abstract

A method for reducing a patron'"'"'s waiting time at a walk-in facility includes providing a communications network, wherein the communications network includes a first communications link between a patron and a walk-in facility. The method includes providing a queue, receiving a consultation request via the first communications link, reserving a position in the queue in response to the consultation request, determining a time period before a consultation is available, and providing notice to the patron of the determined time period, wherein the patron may wait at a location other than the walk-in facility during the determined time period, thereby reducing the patron'"'"'s need to wait at the walk-in facility before being consulted at the walk-in facility.

Claims

1. A method of reducing a patron'"'"'s waiting time at a walk-in facility, the method comprising:

providing a communications network including a first communications link between a patron and a walk-in facility;

providing a queue;

receiving a consultation request via the first communications link;

reserving a position in the queue in response to the consultation request;

determining a time period before a future consultation is available;

providing notice to the patron of the determined time period;

wherein the patron may wait at a location other than the walk-in facility during the determined time period, thereby reducing the patron'"'"'s need to wait at the walk-in facility before being consulted at the walk-in facility.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the patron is notified of the determined time period via the first communications link.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first communications link comprises an internet website.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving patron information via the first communications link.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing instructions to the patron via the first communications link.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

providing a second communications link between the walk-in facility and a third-party entity.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

providing the patron information to the third-party entity for verification via the second communications link.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the patron information includes insurance information.

9. A method of reducing a patron'"'"'s waiting time at a walk-in facility, the method comprising:

providing a communications network including a first communications link between a patron and a walk-in facility;

providing a second communications link between the walk-in facility and a third party entity;

providing a queue;

receiving a consultation request via the first communications link;

reserving a position in the queue in response to the consultation request;

receiving patron information via the first communications link;

determining a time period before the next consultation is available;

providing notice to the patron of the determined time period;

wherein the patron may wait at a location other than the walk-in facility during the determined time period, thereby reducing the patron'"'"'s need to wait at the walk-in facility before being consulted at the walk-in facility.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the patron is notified of the determined time period via the first communications link.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first communications link comprises an internet website.

12. The method according to claim 9, the method further comprising:

providing instructions to the patron via the first communications link.

13. The method according to claim 9, the method further comprising:

providing the patron information to the third-party entity for verification via the second communications link.

14. The method according to claim 13, the method further comprising:

receiving verification from the third-party entity via the second communications link.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the patron information includes insurance information.

16. A method of eliminating a patron'"'"'s waiting time at a health-care facility, the method comprising:

providing a communications network including an internet website;

providing a second communications link between a health-care facility and an insurance provider;

providing a queue;

receiving a consultation request via the internet website;

reserving a position in the queue in response to the consultation request;

determining a time period before the next consultation at the health-care facility is available, wherein the time period is determined such that the patron may report to the health-care facility at the expiration of the time period and be immediately consulted;

providing notice to the patron of the determined time period;

receiving patron information via the internet website;

providing patron information to the insurance provider for verification via the second communications link;

receiving verification from the insurance provider via the second communications link;

wherein the patron may wait at a location other than the health-care facility during the determined time period, thereby eliminating the patron'"'"'s need to wait at the health-care facility before being consulted at the health-care facility.

17. The method according to claim 16, the method further comprising:

providing instructions to the patron via the internet website.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the notice is provided via the internet website.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second communications link comprises an internet website.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the patron information includes insurance information.