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Epic communications manager Megan Fink joined the Epic program leadership team in November 2012 to promote the many features and benefits of this comprehensive health information system. Working with Epic colleagues, she will assist MUSC's clinical staff, manage patient care and streamline communications with patients, colleagues and community providers.
MyChart is the online tool that allows patients to view their medical records and interact with their care team.
The following are some myths and facts regarding Epic.
Myth: The patient population is computer-illiterate, elderly or lacks computer access.
Truth: Everett Clinic found that the highest use of MyChart portal was by 50- to 70-year-old patients with multiple or chronic conditions. More than 2.71 million Kaiser Permanente members have registered and activated (45 percent of all eligible members who have regular access to the internet. It takes 2.5 to three minutes for a parent to activate as a proxy for their child on MyChart.
Myth: MyChart will increase unnecessary office visits.
Truth: Sixty-one percent of patients sent messages through MyChart in place of office visits (95 percent used messages to replace a telephone call). Patients who use secure email (via MyChart) were 7 to 10 percent less likely to schedule office visits and make 14 percent fewer phone contacts than those who do not use online services. Within seven months of MyChart usage, no-show appointments decreased by 2 percent and telephone calls decreased by 15 percent. Appointments scheduled through MyChart made up 9 percent of total scheduled appointments from May 2010 to February 2011.
Myth: MyChart will not save me time and money.
Truth: Averaging 309 messages per month via MyChart, one area saved more than $11,000 for a group of 10 physicians. Ordering prescription refills through MyChart saved an average of four minutes per refill. MyChart saves $22,500 in paper per 900 patients yearly.
Myth: There's no way patients will use e-visits instead of calling.
Truth: Nearly 80 percent of users rated e-visits "equally good" or "better" than in-person visits; out of the number of encounters for three specified conditions, 12 percent were completed through the e-visit feature. Patients have higher than a 95 percent satisfaction rate for e-visits.
Myth: My patients are already happy, so MyChart can't improve patient care.
Truth: Patients communicating with their doctors through MyChart showed a statistically significant improvement of effectiveness of care. Forty-seven percent of patients would choose a provider based on whether he or she uses MyChart. More than 75 percent of patients are satisfied or very satisfied with the time of care team responses through MyChart.
Friday, Feb. 22, 2013
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