VETERINARY KIOSK WITH INTEGRATED VETERINARY MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20140052463A1
• Filed: 08/15/2013
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rite Aid Corporation (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Healthspot Incorporated
• Inventors: Cashman, Steve, Hipsher, Brian, Churran, John Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,223,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A veterinary kiosk designed to provide tele-med services, check-in services, and/or prescription services for a user and an animal. The veterinary kiosk can include a user video conferencing system that is designed to enable the user to have a real-time or near real-time tele-conference with a veterinary provider located remotely from the veterinary kiosk. A method of providing veterinary services via a modular veterinary kiosk with one or more integrated veterinary medical devices.

Claims

1. A veterinary kiosk having a modular configuration and designed to provide tele-med services to a user, said veterinary kiosk including a user video conferencing system, said user video conferencing system designed to enable the user to have a real-time or near real-time tele-conference with a veterinary provider located remotely from said veterinary kiosk, said user video conferencing system including a first and second video screens, a camera, and a microphone, said first video screen designed to display said veterinary provider during a video conference between said user and said veterinary provider.

2. The veterinary kiosk as defined in claim 1, including a medical compartment and/or device retractor system that holds a medical device, said medical device including one or more devices selected from the group consisting of a stethoscope, an otoscope, a thermometer, a dermascope, a stadiometer, a blood pressure monitor, one or more movable or fixed examination cameras, and a grooming tool.

3. The veterinary kiosk as defined in claim 2, wherein said medical compartment includes a lockable door, said lockable door designed to be unlockable when said veterinary provider allows access to the user or a progress through a vitals capture program.

4. The veterinary kiosk as defined in claim 1, including an examination table that can optionally include an integrated scale, or the optional scale can be located in the floor of the kiosk or outside the kiosk.

5. The veterinary kiosk as defined in claim 1, including a mobile device application or network application, said mobile application or network application designed to allow a user various functions on a mobile device or computer, said functions including one or more functions selected from the group consisting of 1) locating an available veterinary kiosk, 2) scheduling an appointment with the veterinary kiosk, 3) pre-registering symptoms and/or reasons for visit, 4) set and/or cancel an appointment with the veterinary kiosk, 5) receiving reminders and/or updates regarding appointments for the veterinary kiosk, 6) obtaining information about veterinary kiosk availability, 7) obtaining information about certain veterinary provider availability, 8) obtaining information about the available veterinary provider, 9) enabling the selection of a certain veterinary provider and/or veterinary provider in a certain field of medicine, 10) obtaining map information, address information and/or hours of operation information regarding a selected veterinary kiosk, 11) locating the closest kiosk and/or kiosk availability for a certain veterinary provider and/or veterinary provider in a certain field of medicine, 12) presubmitting and/or preclearing medical insurance, 13) submitting payment information, 14) receiving information on payment status, 15) receiving information on insurance coverage, 16) receiving appointment reminders and/or updates, 17) receiving prescription information, 18) submitting payment information for medical visit and/or prescription, 19) answer surveys regarding the use of the veterinary kiosk, 20) entering personal information about user, 21) entering information about animal, and 22) receiving medication reminders.

6. The veterinary kiosk as defined in claim 1, including a medication adherence software application that provides one or more functions selected from the group consisting of 1) enabling a user to speak to a pharmacist or veterinary provider, 2) enabling a user to change the animal'"'"'s medications alerts, 3) enabling a user to learn about certain types of medical conditions, 4) enabling a user to check medication orders status, 5) enabling a user to check medication delivery status, 6) enabling a user to refill a prescriptions, 7) enabling a user to transfer prescriptions to another location, 8) enabling a user to obtain information about recommended medication dosages, 9) enabling a user to obtain information about recommended times to take medications, 10) enabling a user to obtain information about recommended frequency for taking medications, 11) enabling a user to obtain information about medications, 12) enabling a user to obtain information about generic brands available for medications, 13) enabling a user to request an appointment to speak with a veterinary provider, 14) enabling a user to enter information regarding compliance information regarding medication usage by animal, 15) enabling a user to receive compliance reports for animals regarding medication usage, 16) enabling a user to pay for the prescription, 17) enabling a user to select between a generic and non-generic brand of medication, 18) enabling a user to compare pricing and/or delivery options for various medications, 19) providing reminders for users to give medications to animal, 20) monitoring and/or generating progress reports to the user regarding adherence to medication usage, and 21) enrolling a user in an electronic prescription network which sends prescriptions to user'"'"'s choice of pharmacy.

7. The veterinary kiosk as defined in claim 1, including an exterior registration station, said registration station including a user input system that enables the user to enter information about the user and animal prior to having said real-time or near real-time tele-conference with a veterinary provider, said user input system can include one or more components selected from the group consisting of a key pad for identification and/or data entry, key board for identification and/or data entry, a touch screen for identification and/or data entry, microphone and/or voice recognition software for identification and/or data entry, a fingerprint scanner for identification and/or data entry, a retina scanner for identification and/or entry, lights, buttons, switches, camera, speakers, microphone, scanner, receiver, transmitter, credit card/debit card or other some other card reader, smart phone or other smart device reader/scanner, finger and/or eye scanner, shelf, printer, storage cavity, service access door, motion sensor, sound sensor, temperature sensor, and logos, said registration station can be used for one or more functions selected from the group consisting of a) allowing user to enter user name, b) allowing user to enter user address, c) allowing user to enter user contact information, d) allowing user to enter user age, e) allowing user to enter user sex, f) allowing user to enter animal'"'"'s name, g) allowing user to enter breed of animal, h) allowing user to enter animal'"'"'s sex, i) allowing user to enter animal'"'"'s height, j) allowing user to enter animal'"'"'s weight, k) allowing user to enter user'"'"'s language, k) allowing user to enter animal'"'"'s medical history, l) allowing user to enter current and/or past medicines used by animal, m) allowing user to enter information on past medical conditions of animal, n) allowing user to enter reason(s) for visit, o) allowing user to enter animal'"'"'s current symptoms, p) allowing user to enter animal'"'"'s allergies, q) allowing user to enter user'"'"'s ID number and/or password, r) allowing user to enter user insurance information, s) allowing user to enter user payment information, t) allowing user to enter consent forms, u) allowing user to request assistance from a veterinary attendant, v) allowing user to enter date and/or time user desires appointment, w) allowing user to enter user'"'"'s current veterinary provider, x) allowing user to request a specific veterinary provider and/or veterinary provider specialty, y) providing user information about the veterinary kiosk, z) providing user information on how to use the medial kiosk, aa) providing user information on how to properly input/convey information to the veterinary kiosk, bb) providing user instructions and/or interactions with the user during the inputting/conveying of information by the user to the veterinary kiosk, cc) providing user information on the wait time for the user'"'"'s use of the veterinary kiosk, dd) providing user a list of users and/or number of users waiting to use the veterinary kiosk, and ee) providing user information regarding whether the veterinary kiosk is in use or is available.

8. The veterinary kiosk as defined in claim 1, including a display screen that can be used to provide one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of registration information, information input by the user, advertising information, information about the veterinary kiosk, information about wait time for a veterinary kiosk, information as to the order of users waiting to use the veterinary kiosk, information about whether a veterinary kiosk is available or in use, cable TV shows, satellite TV shows, local broadcast TV shows, infomercials, medical programs, DVD materials, Blu-ray materials, video programs, YouTube programs, and pictures.

9. The veterinary kiosk as defined in claim 1, including an interior chamber and a cleaning or sanitizing system to clean or sanitize at least a portion of said interior chamber, said cleaning or sanitizing system including one or more systems selected from the group consisting of a UV system and a mist system.

10. The veterinary kiosk as defined in claim 1, including a prescription drug system that includes one or more functions selected from the group consisting of 1) enabling a veterinary provider to generate electronic prescriptions, 2) enabling a user to conveniently select and/or order prescription drugs, 3) enabling a user to choose between name brand and generic drugs, 4) enabling a user to choose the supply quantity for the prescription, 5) enabling a user to choose between picking the prescription up at a location of their choice or mail delivery of the prescription, 6) enabling a user to enter medical insurance for partial or full payment of the prescription, 7) enabling a user to enter a credit or debit card information to pay for the prescription, 8) enabling a user to enter information for mail delivery of the prescription, 9) enabling a user to enter information to provide automatic reminders to user regarding refilled and/or follow-up medical visits, 10) enabling a user to enter information to enable user to be notified when prescription has been mailed and/or is ready to be picked-up at the pharmacy, 11) enabling a user to obtain a print out and/or electronic version of the prescription written by the veterinary provider, 12) enabling a user to receive information about the issued prescription in printout and/or electronic form, and 13) enabling a user to select the location where he/she would like to pick-up the prescription.

11. The veterinary kiosk as defined in claim 1, including a moveable interior panel to allow access to one or more components located behind the moveable panel, said moveable interior panel is optionally a front interior panel, said movable panel optionally includes a lock, said movable panel optionally includes a caster, a roller, and/or a rail system to facilitate in the opening and closing of the movable panel, said one or more components including components selected from the group consisting of 1) components that form the exterior check-in station, 2) interior display or monitor, 3) interior speaker, 4) interior camera, 4) interior sound jack, 5) door on the medical compartment, 6) interior microphone, 7) electronics located behind the exterior check-in station, 8) electronics located behind the interior AV system, and 9) computer and/or other electronics used for network communication, control and/or storage.

12. A method for providing a real-time or near real-time tele-conference with a veterinary provider located remotely from a veterinary kiosk and a user located at the veterinary kiosk, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a veterinary kiosk;

b. providing an attendant application, an appointment application, a provider application, a schedule system, a user portal, medical adherence application, an administrator application, and/or a provider portal, said attendant application includes software and/or hardware that enables the attendant to

     1) monitor, modify and/or cancel existing appointments for a veterinary kiosk,

     2) monitor whether a user requires assistance,

     3) attend the user throughout the veterinary visit,

     4) monitor and/or assistant a user during registration with the veterinary kiosk,

     5) provide procedures and/or check lists for the medical assistant, and/or

     6) provide information on the status of the veterinary kiosk, said attendant application can include one or more functions selected from the group consisting of a) displaying one or more appointment fields of a user, said appointment fields can include one or more fields selected from the group consisting of time of appointment, user name, animal name, veterinary provider name, status of appointment and action of attendant, b) checking in a user, c) cancelling and/or rescheduling an appointment, d) entering notes about a visit, e) entering notes about a canceled and/or rescheduled visit, f) viewing notes from a veterinary provider about a user, g) printing a visit summary, h) allowing the veterinary attendant to associate an emergency clean-up with a user appointment, i) allowing medical assistant to view appointment information, j) allowing medical assistant to validate user IDs, k) allowing medical assistant to validate user insurance, l) allowing medical assistant to reschedule or cancel an appointment, m) allowing medical assistant to perform the sanitization process for the veterinary kiosk, n) allowing medical assistant to select the user records, o) allowing medical assistant to enter in and/or scan ID and/or insurance information, p) providing notice of instructions and/or policies to be given to a user, q) allowing medical assistant to update user information, r) allowing medical assistant to enter payment and/or copay information and/or payments for the user visit, s) displaying a list of sanitation protocols and/or procedures, and t) allowing medical assistant to activate automatic sanitation process, said user appointment application can include one or more functions selected from the group consisting of

     1) enabling a user to identify themselves as a new and/or returning user,

     2) enabling a user to schedule a new appointment, verify a previously confirmed appointment and/or cancel an appointment,

     3) welcoming a user that has already scheduled an appointment,

     4) providing the user with a privacy policy associated with the use of the veterinary kiosk,

     5) providing the user with terms of service policy associated with the use of the veterinary kiosk,

     6) requesting information as to why the user is using the user registration system,

     7) requesting the user to enter a password, phone number, pin number, name, animal name, email address, address, date or birth and/or sex to identify the user, date or birth and/or sex to identify the animal,

     8) requesting the user to verify if the user is at least a certain age,

     9) requesting the user to identify one or more symptoms that the animal is experiencing in which the user is seeking medical assistance for the animal,

     10) requesting the user to answer one or more follow-up questions after the user enters the one or more symptoms of the animal,

     11) informing the user to seek an in-person visit by a veterinary provider after the user has identified one or more symptoms that the animal is experiencing,

     12) requesting the user to identify one or more known allergies of the animal,

     13) requesting the user to identify one or more known medical conditions and/or allergies of the animal,

     14) requesting the user to identify one or more past medical procedures that have been performed on the animal,

     15) requesting the user to identify one or more medications the animal is taking,

     16) asking the user if the user has medical insurance,

     17) requesting the user to enter in the medical insurance information and/or to scan the insurance card,

     18) requesting the user to make a copay based the medical insurance or to fully pay for the medical visit,

     19) allowing the user to request assistance,

     20) listing one or more days and/or times that the veterinary kiosk is available for use by the user,

     21) verifying all of the required information and optional payment has been made by the user by displaying information on a screen, printing out verification for the user, emailing verification to user, texting verification to the user and/or leaving a voicemail of verification for the user,

     22) allowing a user to update information,

     23) storing information in a user file,

     24) navigating the user through the vitals capture process for the animal,

     25) navigating the user through the user consultation, and

     26) navigating the user through a survey, said provider application is designed to have one or more features selected from the group consisting of a) enabling a veterinary provider display appointment information, b) enabling a veterinary provider display user information, c) enabling a veterinary provider view and/or modify visit information, d) enabling a veterinary provider perform the consultation with the user, and e) enabling a veterinary provider utilize one or more medical devices in the veterinary kiosk, said provider application can include one or more functions selected from the group consisting of

     1) enabling the veterinary provider to view appointments that have been completed by the veterinary provider or are in in progress for a certain day,

     2) enable the veterinary provider to view appointments that have been made for a future time,

     3) enable the veterinary provider to display one or more types of user appointment information, said user appointment information including information selected from the group consisting of time of appointment, user names, animal names, type of animal, breed of animal, status of appointment, user started the registration process but has not yet been approved for payment, user has been checked-in, appointment has started and vitals are being collected, vitals have been collected and the video consultation is in-progress, video consultation has been completed and veterinary provider completion is pending, and appointment has been completed,

     4) enable the veterinary provider to display a record about a user, such record information selected from the group consisting of user name, user date of birth, user sex, animal name, animal types, animal breed, animal name, animal sex, animal age, animal height, animal weight, animal symptoms, animal medical conditions, date of last visit of animal, diagnosis of animal, allergies of animal, medications of animal, prior visit record of user and/or animal, and medical records of user and/or animal,

     5) enable the veterinary provider to notify the veterinary attendant that the user requires assistance,

     6) enable the veterinary provider to limit access to a user'"'"'s information and/or animal'"'"'s information,

     7) enable the veterinary provider to refuse an appointment that has been created for the veterinary provider,

     8) enable the veterinary provider to begin the conference with the user once the user is ready in the veterinary kiosk,

     9) enable the veterinary provider to view the user and/or animal on the veterinary provider'"'"'s screen,

     10) enable the veterinary provider to end the consultation with the user,

     11) allow the veterinary provider to view the user records and/or animal records, including the vitals capture process that has occurred or is occurring in the veterinary kiosk,

     12) enable the veterinary provider to modify a user'"'"'s record and/or animal'"'"'s record,

     13) enable the veterinary provider add and/or remove medication, medical conditions, allergies and/or symptoms information in the animal'"'"'s record,

     14) enable the veterinary provider to enter notes about a user and/or animal, diagnoses for an animal, and/or follow-up care for an animal,

     15) enable the veterinary provider to control access to and/or activate one or more medical devices in the veterinary kiosk,

     16) enable the veterinary provider to view the results from the use of one or more medical devices that have been used on the animal,

     17) enable the veterinary provider to create a visit summary for a user,

     18) enable the veterinary provider to create a prescription for an animal of a user,

     19) enable the veterinary provider to provide one or more visit documents and/or other types of documents to the user,

     20) enable the medical provide to contact another veterinary provider and optionally allow the primary veterinary provider to view the other veterinary provider on the provider screen and/or enable the other veterinary provider to be viewed by the user,

     21) enable the veterinary provider to engage a translator to facilitate communication between the user and veterinary provider,

     22) enable the veterinary provider to contact a third party to obtain information about and/or authorization for a user using the veterinary kiosk, and

     23) see a virtual queue of patients ready to be seen, said scheduling system can include one or more functions selected from the group consisting of

     1) enabling a user to select a particular veterinary provider,

     2) making an appointment on a veterinary kiosk at a particular time and place,

     3) enabling a user to select a veterinary provider or type of veterinary provider based on the particular need of the user and/or animal,

     4) locating available locations of veterinary kiosks,

     5) enabling a user to enter information about the user and/or animal,

     6) checking past, current and/or future appointments of the user regarding use of the veterinary kiosk,

     7) entering a partial or full payment for use of the veterinary kiosk,

     8) entering medical insurance information,

     9) making payment information,

     10) enabling a user to request assistance,

     11) enabling a user to enter consents and/or consent forms,

     12) enabling the user to receive reminders about the appointment, and

     12) entering into a virtual queue for seeing the next available veterinarian, said user portal including one or more functions selected from the group consisting of

     1) allowing a user to locate an available veterinary kiosk,

     2) allowing a user to schedule an appointment with the veterinary kiosk,

     3) allowing a user to pre-register symptoms and/or reasons for visit,

     4) allowing a user to set and/or cancel an appointment with the veterinary kiosk,

     5) allowing a user to receive reminders and/or updates regarding appointments for the veterinary kiosk,

     6) allowing a user to obtain information about veterinary kiosk availability,

     7) allowing a user to obtain information about certain veterinary provider availability,

     8) allowing a user to obtain information about the available veterinary provider,

     9) allowing a user to enable the selection of a certain veterinary provider and/or veterinary provider in a certain field of medicine,

     10) allowing a user to obtain map information, address information and/or hours of operation information regarding a selected veterinary kiosk,

     11) allowing a user to locate the closest kiosk and/or kiosk availability for a certain veterinary provider and/or veterinary provider in a certain field of medicine,

     12) allowing a user to presubmit and/or preclear medical insurance,

     13) allowing a user to submit payment information,

     14) allowing a user to receive information on payment status,

     15) allowing a user to receive information on insurance coverage,

     16) allowing a user to receive appointment reminders and/or updates,

     17) allowing a user to receive prescription information,

     18) allowing a user to submit payment information for medical visit and/or prescription,

     19) allowing a user to answer surveys regarding the use of the veterinary kiosk, and

     20) allowing a user to receive medication reminders, said medical adherence application is designed to reduce medication errors, said medical adherence application including one or more functions selected from the group consisting of

     1) reminding users to give meds to animal,

     2) automatically creating a log when the animal takes the medication,

     3) tracking a user'"'"'s compliance to giving medication on time to animal,

     4) providing automatic progress reports,

     4) referring the user to a pharmacist or veterinary provider to answer any questions and/or for additional consultation,

     5) automatically enroll the user in a e-script network, which network sends their prescriptions to the pharmacy of their choice,

     6) assisting in improving user outcomes and/or satisfaction,

     7) being designed to be used on a screen in the veterinary kiosk, and/or on a computer screen and/or mobile device,

     8) allowing a user to speak to a pharmacist or veterinary provider,

     9) allowing a user to change medication alerts

     9) providing information to a user about various medical conditions,

     10) allowing the user to check medication order status,

     11) allowing the user to refill prescriptions,

     12) allowing user to transfer prescriptions to a pharmacy or other supplier,

     13) providing user with information about recommended dosages of medication,

     14) providing information to user regarding period for taking medications,

     15) providing user with information regarding frequency for taking medications,

     16) providing information to user regarding information about medications,

     17) providing information to user regarding generic brands available for medications,

     18) allowing a user to request an appointment to speak with a veterinary provider,

     19) allowing the user to enter compliance information regarding medication usage by user,

     20) providing user with medication alerts,

     21) allowing the user to change medication alerts,

     22) allowing the user to select how information will be sent to user, and

     23) providing the user with medication guidelines and/or medical plans, said an administrator application allowing a medical administrator to remotely access one or more components of the veterinary kiosk, said administrator application including one or more functions selected from the group consisting of

     1) allowing remote access to one or more medical devices in the veterinary kiosk,

     2) allowing remote access to one or more computers in the veterinary kiosk,

     3) allowing remote access to one or more routers in the veterinary kiosk,

     4) allowing remote access to one or more displays on the veterinary kiosk,

     5) allowing diagnostics to be executed from a remote location on one or more electronic components in the veterinary kiosk,

     6) allowing the rebooting and/or reinitializing from a remote location of one or more electronic components in the veterinary kiosk,

     7) allowing for review of the current and/or past status from a remote location of one or more electronic components in the veterinary kiosk,

     8) allowing remote access to one or more power supplies in the veterinary kiosk,

     9) allowing remote access to one or more servers in the veterinary kiosk,

     10) allowing remote access to one or more harddrives in the veterinary kiosk,

     11) allowing hardware and/or software updates to be remotely sent and/or loaded onto one or more electronic components in the veterinary kiosk, and

     12) allowing software to be loaded onto and/or removed from one or more electronic components in the veterinary kiosk, said provider portal can include one or more functions selected from the group consisting of

     1) allowing a veterinary provider to access another veterinary provider,

     2) enabling two or more veterinary providers to be simultaneously viewed and/or heard by the user in the veterinary kiosk,

     3) enabling the veterinary provider to switch to a new veterinary provider such that only the new veterinary provider is not viewed by the user in the veterinary kiosk, and

     4) allowing a second veterinary provider to listen and/or communicate with the user in the veterinary kiosk.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein said veterinary kiosk has a modular configuration, said veterinary kiosk having a user video conferencing system, said user video conferencing system designed to enable the user to have a real-time or near real-time tele-conference with a veterinary provider located remotely from said veterinary kiosk, said user video conferencing system including a first and second video screens, a camera, and a microphone, said first video screen designed to display said veterinary provider during a video conference between said user and said veterinary provider, said second video screen being a touch screen that enables said user to enter information regarding said tele-med services.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said kiosk includes a medical compartment that holds a medical device, said medical device including one or more devices selected from the group consisting of a stethoscope, a stethoscope, an otoscope, a thermometer, a dermascope, a stadiometer, a blood pressure monitor, and a grooming tool.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein said medical compartment includes a lockable door, said lockable door designed to be unlockable when said veterinary provider allows access to the user or a progress through a vitals capture program.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein said veterinary kiosk including an examination table that includes an integrated scale.

17. The method as defined in claim 12, including a mobile device application or network application, said mobile application or network application designed to allow a user various functions on a mobile device or computer, said functions including one or more functions selected from the group consisting of 1) locating an available veterinary kiosk, 2) scheduling an appointment with the veterinary kiosk, 3) pre-registering symptoms and/or reasons for visit, 4) set and/or cancel an appointment with the veterinary kiosk, 5) receiving reminders and/or updates regarding appointments for the veterinary kiosk, 6) obtaining information about veterinary kiosk availability, 7) obtaining information about certain veterinary provider availability, 8) obtaining information about the available veterinary provider, 9) enabling the selection of a certain veterinary provider and/or veterinary provider in a certain field of medicine, 10) obtaining map information, address information and/or hours of operation information regarding a selected veterinary kiosk, 11) locating the closest kiosk and/or kiosk availability for a certain veterinary provider and/or veterinary provider in a certain field of medicine, 12) presubmitting and/or preclearing medical insurance, 13) submitting payment information, 14) receiving information on payment status, 15) receiving information on insurance coverage, 16) receiving appointment reminders and/or updates, 17) receiving prescription information, 18) submitting payment information for medical visit and/or prescription, 19) answer surveys regarding the use of the veterinary kiosk, and 20) receiving medication reminders.

18. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein said veterinary kiosk includes an exterior registration station, said registration station including a user input system that enables the user to enter information about the user prior to having said real-time or near real-time tele-conference with a veterinary provider, said user input system can include one or more components selected from the group consisting of a key pad for identification and/or data entry, key board for identification and/or data entry, a touch screen for identification and/or data entry, microphone and/or voice recognition software for identification and/or data entry, a fingerprint scanner for identification and/or data entry, a retina scanner for identification and/or entry, lights, buttons, switches, camera, speakers, microphone, scanner, receiver, transmitter, credit card/debit card or other some other card reader, smart phone or other smart device reader/scanner, finger and/or eye scanner, shelf, printer, storage cavity, service access door, motion sensor, sound sensor, temperature sensor, and logos, said registration station can be used for one or more functions selected from the group consisting of a) allowing user to enter user name, b) allowing user to enter user address, c) allowing user to enter user contact information, d) allowing user to enter user age, e) allowing user to enter animal name, f) allowing user to enter type of animal, g) allowing user to enter breed of animal, h) allowing user to enter sex of animal, i) allowing user to enter age of animal, j) allowing user to enter weight of animal, k) allowing user to enter user language, l) allowing user to enter animal medical history, m) allowing user to enter current and/or past medicines used by animal, n) allowing user to enter information on past medical conditions of animal, o) allowing user to enter reason(s) for visit by user and/or animal, p) allowing user to enter animal'"'"'s current symptoms, q) allowing user to enter animal'"'"'s allergies, r) allowing user to enter user'"'"'s ID number and/or password, s) allowing user to enter user insurance information, t) allowing user to enter user payment information, u) allowing user to enter consent forms, v) allowing user to request assistance from a veterinary attendant, w) allowing user to enter date and/or time user desires appointment, x) allowing user to enter user'"'"'s current veterinary provider, y) allowing user to request a specific veterinary provider and/or veterinary provider specialty, z) provide user information about the veterinary kiosk, aa) provide user information on how to use the medial kiosk, bb) provide user information on how to properly input/convey information to the veterinary kiosk, cc) provide user instructions and/or interactions with the user during the inputting/conveying of information by the user to the veterinary kiosk, dd) provide user information on the wait time for the user'"'"'s use of the veterinary kiosk, ee) provide user a list of users and/or number of users waiting to use the veterinary kiosk, and ff) provide user information regarding whether the veterinary kiosk is in use or is available.

19. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein said veterinary kiosk includes a display screen that can be used to provide one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of registration information, information input by the user, advertising information, information about the veterinary kiosk, information about wait time for a veterinary kiosk, information as to the order of users waiting to use the veterinary kiosk, information about whether a veterinary kiosk is available or in use, cable TV shows, satellite TV shows, local broadcast TV shows, infomercials, medical programs, DVD materials, Blu-ray materials, video programs, YouTube programs, and pictures.

20. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein said veterinary kiosk includes a cleaning or sanitizing system to clean or sanitize at least a portion of an interior chamber, said cleaning or sanitizing system including a system selected from the group consisting of a UV system and a mist system.

21. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein said veterinary kiosk includes a moveable interior panel to allow access to one or more components located behind the moveable panel, said moveable interior panel is optionally a front interior panel, said movable panel optionally includes a lock, said movable panel optionally includes a caster, a roller, and/or a rail system to facilitate in the opening and closing of the movable panel, said one or more components including component s selected from the group consisting of 1) components that form the exterior check-in station, 2) interior display or monitor, 3) interior speaker, 4) interior camera, 4) interior sound jack, 5) door on the medical compartment, 6) interior microphone, 7) electronics located behind the exterior check-in station, 8) electronics located behind the interior AV system, and 9) computer and/or other electronics used for network communication, control and/or storage.