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eHealthConnect Streamlines New Oncology Patient Intake
at URMC's James P. Wilmot Cancer Center |
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With some of the best oncologists and surgeons in the country, according to America's Top Doctors for Cancer, it is no surprise the University of Rochester Medical Center's James P. Wilmot Cancer Center treats hundreds of patients each day. According to Lynn Levandowski, Clinical Administrator, the Cancer Center has over 200 patients in one day, although the typical volume is between 100-200 patients daily. "We'll also receive 40-50 new patients each week," stated Levandowski. |
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Coordinating the care for a large volume of patients can be a huge burden on the staff, especially in a setting where doctors and patients are fighting against potentially deadly diseases. Even with a clerical staff of 23 and a dedicated new patient intake coordinator, one of the most difficult and labor intensive administrative tasks is obtaining new patient records, said Catherine Lyons, RN, MS, CNAA, Associate Director, Clinical Services. "Hard copies of patient films have to mailed and returned, which is difficult to track. Plus, we usually experience delays with outside institutions mailing the films to us."
Timely and efficient care is crucial for these patients. When Lyons heard about a new service offered by eHealth Global Technologies that streamlines the process for obtaining patient records from other medical centers and physician offices, she quickly organized a meeting to learn more.
eHealth Global is a leading medical record services provider in North America. The company combines information technology with a clinical support team to retrieve, digitize, organize, store and secure patient medical records.
In late 2005, the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center began using eHealth Global's eHealthConnect service to obtain new patient records. They experienced instant results.
"We saw an immediate impact on our staff workflow and efficiency," noted Levandowski, "and we were able to schedule more patients."
Obtaining a patient's prior medical images is a crucial component to treatment. "We need to know what tests - and in particular imaging studies - the patient has had and when those were conducted," said Levandowski. Approximately half of the patient records that eHealthConnect obtains are film; the service digitizes and uploads them to a secure website for viewing. With advanced imaging technology such as MRI and PET/CT, it is not uncommon for a patient's record to contain 1,500 images.
The average turn-around time at URMC from the initial request to compilation of the complete patient record is three days. For Lyons, having outside images and documents organized digitally before the patient arrives for his/her consultative appointment streamlines patient care. "We can get patients into the center much faster and make better use of that first appointment because more information is readily available," she noted. Lyons knows her staff is more efficient even though she hasn't measured the results. "eHealthConnect certainly cuts down on the time it takes to procure records in advance of the new patient visit."
Nearly 40 percent of the record requests are outside the metropolitan Rochester area, even as far as Florida and California. The staff at eHealth Global must often contact different sites and offices to gather a patient's complete history.
"This service truly streamlines the patient care process and enables us to see a new patient in a timely manner," said Levandowski. "If we urgently need a record, I know we can get it as soon as possible through eHealthConnect without placing any burden on the patient. They already have enough to worry about." |
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About the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center
The James P. Wilmot Cancer Center has a 30-year history of excellence in patient care, research, education and community outreach in central New York State. It offers a wide range of state-of-the-art treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and blood and bone marrow transplantation. Through growing research programs in lung biology, immunology, genetics, cell biology and DNA repair, the Cancer Center is bolstering both basic and translational research to advance discoveries from the bench to the bedside. Convenient outpatient facilities deliver diagnostic, treatment and support services at seven locations, while Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, Strong Memorial Hospital and Highland Hospital provide inpatient services when needed. |
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About eHealth Global Technologies, Inc.
eHealth Global Technologies, Inc. is an industry-leading medical record service provider. The company combines advanced information technology with its world-class clinical customer support team to retrieve, digitize, organize, store and secure patient medical records that reside beyond the 'digital reach' of its customers. eHealth Global's eRetriever™, eHealthConnect™ and eHealthShare™ services help patients, tertiary medical departments, community hospitals, and private healthcare institutions improve productivity, reduce repeat exams, and enhance patient care through better, faster access to patient records. For more information about eHealth Global, please visit the web site at www.ehgt.com. |
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