Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust has received an extra special delivery at its antenatal clinic in the form of a Tensator Virtual Assistant.
The next-generation digital signage solution from Tensator, uses cutting-edge technology to create the illusion of a real person.
‘Shanice’ wears the uniform of a maternity nurse and welcomes both patients and visitors to the antenatal clinic at the trust’s Liverpool Women’s Crown Street site.
As well as providing a friendly face on arrival, Shanice talks visitors through the clinics self check-in procedures, explains what to expect from some clinical assessments, and offers information on many of the services on offer.
As Ajay Joshi, head of media and technology at Tensator, explains, Shanice is designed as an extra resource for the hospital.
She added: “The Tensator Virtual Assistant acts as an extra member of staff to handle frequently-asked questions, freeing up team resources in the process. Shanice is on hand to guide visitors through the process of using the self check-in kiosks. She also relays advice and encourages patient feedback to make sure that everyone experiences the best-possible visit.
“Ultimately, this is about enhancing the entire patient/visitor experience at the antenatal clinic and ensuring that everything continues to run as smoothly as possible.”
Caroline Jacobs, IM&T project manager at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, added: “Liverpool Women’s is the busiest maternity hospital and welcomes thousands of expectant mothers through its doors. Every day an average of 20 babies are born. As you would expect, it can get very busy at times.
“The implementation of the virtual assistant in conjunction with our new self check-in kiosks and clinic management system have been very successful. Overall patients feedback has been very positive.”
The Trust opted for the Ultra model of the Tensator Virtual Assistant. It has the smallest footprint of the entire range, at just 50cm x 50cm, meaning it can be easily moved to almost any position within the hospital. Completely customisable, it can be designed to fit any brand image and messaging.
Tensator Virtual Assistants are in place at a range of healthcare facilities across the country, including Luton and Dunstable Hospital in Bedfordshire and the Oswestry Hospital in Shropshire. Tensator Virtual Assistants are also used as a dynamic marketing tool across a range of other sectors, including transport, retail and leisure.
