Our Digital Health Plan : A Phased Approach

cell phone on top of tablet on top of keyboardIntegrating the new digital health services that our patients expect into our systems while enhancing the existing ones will take long-range planning backed by specific steps.

We will need to start by leveling up as we implement consistent use of existing high-powered tools across practices.

Briefings with Community Health, Community Advisory Boards and Patient and Family Advocate Councils are one step in developing meaningful engagement as we continue to 'level-up.'

Scope of Phase 1

First 18 Months

Attract patients and help patients find the right care with an integrated "Digital Front Door" experience.

  • Enhance UMMS public website
  • Make "Find a Doctor" profiles more robust (appointment scheduling, Press Ganey ratings and reviews, insurances accepted, Epic integration)
  • Help patients understand costs (copay and cost estimator)
  • Investigate creating a smartphone app, if deemed necessary

Improve patient access to care with advanced appointment options

  • Online real-time scheduling across all of UMMS
  • Standard processes, including decision trees by specialty
  • Expand the use of telemedicine, including Teleport / eConsult
  • Web or app strategy for referring physicians
  • Start investigating a "centralized appointment call center" model for Phase 2 

Create a more "paperless" and "frictionless" patient experience

  • Electronic signing of Front Desk Consents, ABNs, and Clinical Consents
  • Electronic Questionnaires by Specialty
  • Collect co-pays and pay bills online
  • More electronic reference material: Patient handbooks, after-visit information

Better prepare patients for their visit using advanced digital tools

  • eCheck-in Features: Geolocation, optimize patient reminders
  • Enhanced pre-registration tools for clinic staff to reduce check-in burden

Improve patient care with next generation device integration at home

  • Pilot the use of remote device integration and remote monitoring

Scope of Phase 2

Additional details about Phase 2 items will be shared when they become available.

Online Physician Profiles

  • Add chatbot to Find a Doctor profiles to help connect patients to the right providers.

Patient Check-In and Clinical Paperwork Features

  • Implement electronic follow-up and health maintenance questionnaires by specialty
  • Implement "On My Way" functionality

Standalone Pre-Registration

  • Implement real-time authorization (RTA) interfaces
  • Include advanced benefits engine features, such as payer service types to improve estimate/copay accuracy

Referrals

  • Streamline referral work queues
  • Implement document builder for referrals
  • Leverage enhanced benefits engine for referrals workflows

Remote Patient Monitoring

  • Continue to expand the use of remote device integration and remote monitoring

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