Officials at the Institute of Public Health are singling out the possibility for patients to check out the first available appointments or estimated waiting times among multiple providers all in one spot as an important advancement of the electronic system. The eNaročanje -- electronic sign-up for appointments -- service allows all Web users, and not just patients, to monitor waiting times for 1132 procedures. As part of the new system, data for more procedures are now being gathered from the providers' information systems. The data are no more than two hours old and are updated automatically.

The new system prevents people from skipping lines. For now, patients can sign up electronically for just 190 procedures – check-ups and diagnostic tests, but not operations. The latter may be added to the system by the end of the year.

How do electronic appointments work?
Patients must first be issued an electronic referral. They can then make appointments themselves on the zVem portal or be signed up by a nurse or doctor immediately after the referral is issued. They can also use so-called "info points" or make a telephone call. The reliability of information about the first available time slots – data about estimated waiting times now predominates – is the responsibility of individual providers.

T.K.B. (MMC), J. Ž. (RA SLO)
Translated by J. B.