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Smartphone appointment check-in offers convenience and self-service at your fingertips

Patient Check In Image

Your overall satisfaction with a health care visit starts with patient check-in. It may be the first time you encounter our staff, or it may be the first time you are welcomed to the facility.

Either way, we understand the importance of this moment, and will soon offer you an opportunity to check in for appointments using your smartphone. Launching this summer, the new patient check-in application has two options: pre-check-in and mobile check-in.

Pre-check-in enables you to review your demographic information (contact, next of kin, emergency contact) on a mobile device from anywhere up to seven days before an appointment.

Mobile check-in allows you to skip the line at the check-in desk on the day of your appointment by having you check in for your appointment using your smartphone.

Don’t have a smartphone or prefer to check-in with a staff member? No problem. You’ll always have the option to check in at the facility in-person with a staff member.

Beginning July 11, Veterans who receive care at the Dearborn Community-Based Outpatient Clinic will have the option to prepare for your next appointment using pre-check-in and mobile check-in. Based on extensive feedback from Veterans and caregivers, these processes are designed to make patient check-in easier for all Veterans, especially those who use assistive technologies to access your benefits online.

Pre-check-in and mobile check-in are easy to use. To use pre-check-in, you’ll access a link through a text message appointment reminder after confirming an appointment. If you’ve opted out of text appointment reminders, you can restart these reminders by texting “START” to 53079 or by replying “START” to any previous text message from VA.

To check in for an appointment with mobile check-in, once you arrive at your appointment clinic, follow these three steps:

  1. Locate the poster titled, ‘Have an appointment? Check in with your phone’ prominently displayed in all clinics offering mobile check-in.
  2. Scan the QR code or text the phone number on the poster.
  3. Wait until you get a text back and click on the link to start your check-in.

For your next appointment, give these options a try, or ask our staff about how they work. Some of the benefits include:

  • Greater flexibility: Start your pre-check-in process from anywhere up to seven days before an appointment using your mobile device (smartphone, tablet, or computer).
  • Faster day-of check-in: Avoid the lines at the check-in desk on the day of a scheduled appointment.
  • Convenience: Easily verify your demographic information to keep your records current.
  • Accessibility: Enjoy an improved digital experience if you use assistive technologies.

The VA’s Office of Information and Technology worked with the Veterans Health Administration and Veterans directly to create the application. For more information about pre-check-in or mobile check-in, visit How to Check in With Your Smartphone for Some VA Appointments | Veterans Affairs.

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