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Since becoming manager of
business administration at the Joe Arrington Cancer Research and
Treatment Center four years ago, John Dolan has worked closely
with Carlos Marrero, the center’s information systems
supervisor. During that time, the cancer center was able to
increasingly leverage the center’s IMPAC system by continually
moving more functions onto it and integrating it with other
hospital systems. “The center sought a comprehensive system that
it could build on and found what it was looking for in IMPAC.
Over the last several years, we have implemented its scheduling,
charge capture, and eScan systems for transcribed documents,”
recalls Dolan. “Carlos and I are constantly looking to move
additional functions into IMPAC in our advance towards a
paperless environment.”
Multiple Benefits
In 2000, nurses began
transcribing their notes directly into the system; and about a
year and a half ago, the center began focusing on the electronic
medical record (EMR). Today, the center enters patient
assessments on workstations instead of paper, tracks clinical
activities, performs image management processes, and monitors
patient and process flow within the department and all within
IMPAC.
The move
from paper forms to electronic forms is yielding multiple
benefits. Instant accessibility to patient information makes it
easy for care givers to track responses to therapy by comparing
vitals of current visits with those from previous visits. When
information is requested by patients or consultants, its
key-stroke-based retrieval means it is obtained immediately,
eliminating time formerly spent in hunting it down and returning
phone calls.
The high
availability and rapid accessibility of information is
appreciated not only by clinical staff and patients. The
business office, which sends billable charges to the center’s
affiliated hospital systems every night, appreciates the IMPAC
system’s charge capture templates and customizable reports. The
scheduling staff, which must contend with ever-changing
schedules, are grateful for IMPAC’s quality checklist features
that facilitate timely and accurate insurance verification.
Timely Support
According to Marrero,
throughout the center’s ongoing implementation, IMPAC support
has been consistently excellent. “The conference calls,
demonstrations, and website documentation are all very helpful,
and so are the annual users’ conferences. Additionally, IMPAC’s
service staff have always gone the extra mile to track down
resources and provide solutions as issues arise,” says Marrero.
Looking Ahead
More recently, the center has
been considering adding IMPAC’s laboratory interface. Dolan
says, “We envision a day when all records are electronic and can
be pulled up from remote locations, including within the
hospitals and from physicians’ homes. Having complete patient
records, including lab results and orders, within IMPAC
electronically will not only streamline our operation but also
increase accuracy in both clinical and business operations.”
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Joe Arrington Cancer Research and Treatment Center. |
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[Email
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