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A Goal Realized
Long before the doors opened and the first patient was treated
in March 2003, the strategy behind the operation of the James E.
Cary Cancer Center in Hannibal, MO had been set: they would have
no paper files, instead relying on IMPAC’s electronic medical
record (EMR). Looking back, chief radiation therapist Matthew
Schneider reflects that their early expectations probably were a
bit overly-ambitious, “but upon review, most have actually since
been met and exceeded.”
The IMPAC system has been the backbone for the Cary Cancer
Center from day one. It allows for efficient departmental
scheduling, keeping everyone on track with where patients are in
the facility. The time studies have allowed them to fine tune
the patient flow, with the average wait time of five minutes.
They use IMPAC for everything from scheduling and billing to
scanning outside documents for inclusion in the patient’s EMR.
In the rare instance when documents need to be send out
externally the system enables emailing or electronic faxing of
documents so the staff never has to touch a piece of paper.
Electronic Prompts Increase Level of
Care
Patients enjoy highly personalized care at the Cary Cancer
Center, with secure charting efficiencies playing a large role.
Reminders are built in next to each name on the schedule to
document any changes in a patient’s normal routine, and each
treatment and exam room is equipped with a computer where the
medical professionals can review records, toggle between
treatment screens for historical information and type in
comprehensive notes during the appointment.
Using the advanced document handling features of the EMR,
sophisticated templates created by the facility allow the
precise specification of planning and treatment directives,
which enable the physician to generate orders and the staff to
unambiguously implement them. Duplication is also eliminated in
this electronic environment. “Patients will never be asked the
same question twice by the staff”, says Schneider. “Once a note
is placed in their record, it locks into their chart, with all
authorized staff having access”. Worklists also ensure that
nothing is forgotten in a patient’s care, with each medical
professional prompted for their individual contribution and
cuing the next person for their entry.
Destination Facility
The James E. Cary Cancer Center has become a destination care
facility for cancer patients in Northeast Missouri and Western
Illinois, with some patients driving 120 miles to receive
treatment there. It could partly be because Hannibal is the only
cancer facility within 100 miles that’s doing IMRT & IGRT, but
they also give huge credit to their IMPAC system. Schneider
explains, “The automated procedures and smart charts absolutely
translate into better care for patients. There’s much less room
for error in a patient’s care when everyone is on the same page
– or screen, as the case might be.” Other cancer centers in
Missouri are looking to the Cary Cancer Center for guidance as
they look to also go electronic – “they’re calling left & right
to find the secret to our success!” Schneider exclaims. |
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The James E. Cary Cancer Center, Hannibal, Missouri
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[Email
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