After nearly 13 months of collaboration and preparation, MyMichigan Health will expand its unique electronic medical record (EMR) system to the Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS) and its physician offices throughout the Detroit area. The new system will allow each patient to have a complete medical record shared between the providers and facilities employed by MSHS that provide their care. The project will also bring the healthcare system to the same platform for enrollment, scheduling and billing.
“We have seen many benefits with this new system which we are excited to expand to the Strait of Mackinac,” said Dan Waltz, chief information officer at MyMichigan Health. “It puts consistent, shared information at the fingertips of our patients and providers for safer and more collaborative decision-making. It reduces the time it takes to search for information and complete documentation, improving provider productivity and satisfaction, and allowing them to spend more time with patients. A single system will be a big improvement for providers and staff and will improve the quality of patient care. »
The software, contracted by Epic Systems Corp., a private healthcare software company based in Verona, Wis., will result in faster, more accurate communication and streamlined processes for safer patient care. and better quality.
“We titled this project ‘One Person, One Record’ because wherever the patient goes through our system, a MyMichigan provider will have access to their complete medical record,” said Robert Genovese, MD, chief information officer. Medical, MyMichigan Health. “Even when patients travel outside of our system to others with Epic software, such as the University of Michigan, the medical records systems will talk to each other, which will make the exchange of information much easier and safer. for the patient. For example, using a feature called “CareEverywhere”, we can pull a patient’s records from other healthcare systems and see what has already been done for them. This not only avoids duplicate testing, but also allows us to start treatment faster. ”
In addition to these benefits, the new system will allow patients to do many more things electronically in the future, such as scheduling appointments online, self-checking in from home, taking advantage of future care options virtual ones such as telemedicine and electronic visits. , and view and pay all bills from one account.
“I am proud of how our medical staff and employees have embraced this change while providing quality, personalized care to our patients,” said Karen Cheeseman, President and CEO of MSHS. “EPIC provides the technology to support patient-centered care. The expertise, talents and dedication of our employees to our patients will make this new level of care a reality.
Patients will soon receive instructions by mail on how to prepare for the new system by activating their MSHS account, which they will use to communicate electronically with their providers, view their medical records and manage appointments, payments and orders in the future. The MyChart portal will replace FollowMyHealth with a single electronic interface that patients can use for all of their online transactions and communications with MSHS.
With the move to electronic medical records, the MSHS team reminds its patients of the following:
For patient safety, to ensure the date is correct and entered accurately into the new system, staff may take longer to confirm existing information at the next visit. This extra time will save patients from having to fill out repetitive forms in the future.
Large-screen monitors in exam rooms and inpatient rooms will allow patients to view medical information alongside their provider. This is designed to improve accuracy and dialogue, allowing patients to better understand their health and take action when needed.
Activation codes will be provided on invoices and after visit summaries, which will facilitate the opening of an MSHS account. This account allows patients to view health information, message their doctor, book appointments, pay bills and more.
Providers will have access to the same consistent information across the health system. It will also make it easier for providers to share information with other hospitals and physicians involved in the patient’s care.
