A few years ago, a peek into Dr. Keith Conaway’s office would have revealed stacks of patient charts waiting to be completed.
“We spent hours looking for and updating charts and progress notes for patients,” said Conaway, who sees patients at Family Medicine Specialists in Shawnee. “It was a nightmare. It was impossible to keep everything up-to-date in a timely manner so that the patients themselves and other physicians could get the information they need.”
Today, those stacks are nowhere to be seen and needed patient information is as close as the nearest computer thanks to an electronic medical records system that was installed about two years ago with the assistance of the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality.
“We knew we needed to simplify our process and provide better quality of care to our patients,” Conaway said. “Now all patient charts are updated the same day. We can get the records we need in about 10 seconds.”
Quick access to completed patient charts can be life-saving, he said.
“We get calls from emergency room doctors who are treating a patient of ours. They need to know the patient’s medical history and often the patient can’t provide it. Now they can call us and we can provide it immediately,” Conaway said. “It means better, safer care for our patients.”
It also means better communication with patients, helping patients become more of a partner in their medical care.
“Today we want patients to be knowledgeable about their medical history and their care, especially if they see multiple doctors,” Conaway said. “This way we help reduce duplication and possible errors in treatment. For instance, we can quickly provide patients with a list of all their prescriptions so they don’t have to try to remember them. We can print our progress notes and give them to the patient to be sure they understand their care and what they need to do.”
The system also provides electronic alerts for patients who need to schedule tests like colonoscopies and mammograms to make sure the doctor discusses that with them.
Conaway continues to add new electronic services that will not only enhance patient care but also communication with patients. For instance, patients today can go to the office’s Web site at http://www.fammed.net and make an appointment, pay their bill, or complete forms online before coming to the office.
In the future, patients will be able to see their lab results online as soon as they are available, and parents will be able to check their children’s immunization schedule and well-child checkups online.
“This is about better continuity of care for our patients and patient satisfaction,” Dr. Conaway said. “We see the difference every day.”
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A few years ago, a peek into Dr. Keith Conaway’s office would have revealed stacks of patient charts waiting to be completed.
“We spent hours looking for and updating charts and progress notes for patients,” said Conaway, who sees patients at Family Medicine Specialists in Shawnee. “It was a nightmare. It was impossible to keep everything up-to-date in a timely manner so that the patients themselves and other physicians could get the information they need.”
Today, those stacks are nowhere to be seen and needed patient information is as close as the nearest computer thanks to an electronic medical records system that was installed about two years ago with the assistance of the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality.
“We knew we needed to simplify our process and provide better quality of care to our patients,” Conaway said. “Now all patient charts are updated the same day. We can get the records we need in about 10 seconds.”
Quick access to completed patient charts can be life-saving, he said.
“We get calls from emergency room doctors who are treating a patient of ours. They need to know the patient’s medical history and often the patient can’t provide it. Now they can call us and we can provide it immediately,” Conaway said. “It means better, safer care for our patients.”
It also means better communication with patients, helping patients become more of a partner in their medical care.
“Today we want patients to be knowledgeable about their medical history and their care, especially if they see multiple doctors,” Conaway said. “This way we help reduce duplication and possible errors in treatment. For instance, we can quickly provide patients with a list of all their prescriptions so they don’t have to try to remember them. We can print our progress notes and give them to the patient to be sure they understand their care and what they need to do.”
The system also provides electronic alerts for patients who need to schedule tests like colonoscopies and mammograms to make sure the doctor discusses that with them.
Conaway continues to add new electronic services that will not only enhance patient care but also communication with patients. For instance, patients today can go to the office’s Web site at http://www.fammed.net and make an appointment, pay their bill, or complete forms online before coming to the office.
In the future, patients will be able to see their lab results online as soon as they are available, and parents will be able to check their children’s immunization schedule and well-child checkups online.
“This is about better continuity of care for our patients and patient satisfaction,” Dr. Conaway said. “We see the difference every day.”
