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After the physicians of Piedmont Hematology Oncology Associates
(PHOA) moved into Forsyth Regional Cancer Center three years
ago, they began to search for an EMR to link the center and
their seven satellite offices. They selected IMPAC in the fall
of 2003, and according to Kathy Norman, PHOA’s executive
director, they’ve never looked back.
Aggressive Implementation
In early 2004, IMPAC started training the PHOA staff with
IMPAC’s scheduling program and demographics. Every month since,
it has implemented something new, from medication lists and
nurses’ progress notes, a laboratory information system that
interfaced directly with lab equipment to provide immediate
transmittal of lab values into patient EMRs—where oncologists
can see trending changes instantly – to treatment care plans
which are updated to reflect changing drugs and treatments. The
most recent addition was adding IMPAC’s transcription system to
the mix.
Impressive Savings
The center uses the IMPAC billing system, which allows
point-of-service charging that continues to improve all aspects
of charge capture. Bringing billing in-house represents a
savings of more than $1 million over outsourcing. Faster access
to information
is reducing costs in other ways, as well as improving patient
care. Just-in-time compounding avoids wasting costly
chemotherapy drugs: when an elevated white count alerts the
pharmacy that scheduled chemo is likely to be cancelled, the
drug is not prepared. Decreased paper volume enabled by the
IMPAC systems has accelerated efficiency in the medical records
department.
Looking Forward
Norman anticipates implementing data visualization and analysis
tool for retrieving outcome data, enabling the center to compare
its treatment success with national averages and determine which
treatments are most successful for PHOA. She also plans to
implement electronic signatures and moving more paper records
into the EMR, becoming one step closer to a paperless facility.
Norman credits IMPAC and PHOA’s implementation team for PHOA’s
successful implementation record. She adds, “We’re determined to
use every feature IMPAC has to offer our staff
and patients.” |
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