THE STRELITZ DIABETES INSTITUTES IMPLEMENTS

NEW COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

The Strelitz Diabetes Institutes has recently implemented innovative new technology that will facilitate patient-provider communication and streamline clinical operations.

The new system combines a redesigned telephone network and a web-based software technology developed by Allscripts known as an electronic medical record, or EMR. Eastern Virginia Medical School is using both the Strelitz Diabetes Institutes and its Ghent Family Practice program as beta test sites.

The Wallach Clinical Care Institute was buzzing on March 31 st , the first day the EMS was up and running. On what was a particularly busy clinic day, the staff was amazed at how quickly they could access information about the patient schedule and incoming messages.

The previous day, the new telephone network that focuses on providing patients with personalized attention went into effect. All incoming calls are now handled by receptionists who immediately route them to the appropriate staff. Voice mail is used only when all the receptionists are handling other patient calls.

The "little pink slip" and paper itself is being replaced. Once telephone messages are entered into the EMR system, they are immediately sent to clinicians. No more message pads.

For Dr. John T. O'Brian , Director of the SDI's Wallach Clinical Care Institute, this new system has been a vision for many years. The EMR will be installed in three evolutionary phases. The first phase will be installed in three modules. Those modules handle work flow issues including messages, patient schedule, daily tasks, prescriptions and charges.

"As of today, with the installation of the first module, we have instantly revolutionized work flow for clinical operations," says Dr. O'Brian . "We have eliminated much of the voice mail, we can keep track of our daily tasks, we can immediately see the messages waiting for us, and we can review the patient schedule at a glance. The prescription and billing modules have also now been installed."

The second phase implementation will begin in June. This phase will record laboratory and ancillary test orders and results. The patient charting will also begin.

The third phase, which will allow the clinic to scan paper patient charts and record and archive new patient information, will be installed later this year. Dr. O'Brian estimates that by 2006, all patient charts will have been electronically scanned, and the entire EMR will be fully operational.

"Eventually, the EMR system will be implemented throughout the entire school in rolling phases," says Dr. O'Brian . "Once the Institutes' completes an installment phase, the software will be introduced to another EVMS clinical program. Clinicians throughout the school, and eventually with other health care systems, will be able to communicate about patient care."

He continues, "The Strelitz Diabetes Institutes faces the enormous challenge of providing quality care for 10,000 patients. With dwindling reimbursements, we need to streamline operations to keep the practice viable. When the complete electronic medical record is in place, it will allow us to provide comprehensive, immediate care for patients and keep very accurate, up-to-the-moment records that are instantly accessible to our physicians and nurses."

During office hours, SDI clinicians can use in-house computers to access networked clinical information that is securely located on the medical school's server. The EMR also provides each physician with a small wireless laptop computer that provides access to all patient information away from the clinic.

Dr. O'Brian explains, "If a physician is on-call at home, out-of-town, or in the hospital making rounds, he or she can use the laptop to access all the latest patient information. In moments, the physician can review records, lab results and medications to determine patient care."

"Our staff is very excited to be doing business in a new way. In the beginning, there will be a period of adjustment because we're getting used to the new system, and we have to enter all past patient information," says Dr. O'Brian.

He concludes, "But, we have been looking forward to the EMR for years. The end result is that EMR will equalize and facilitate our workload as demand for clinical care increases. We can provide efficient, high quality care for our patients, and we can develop innovative new programs because we have the right infrastructure in place."