The days of thick medical files and handwritten doctors notes may be numbered as the medical industry continues the shift to digital technology, putting more information and access into the patients hands.

Its the whole ability for patients to be able to do things on the phone. We refer to it as the electronic clipboard, says Brennan Lehman, chief information officer at Mosaic Life Care. Its the ability to do all those things that you do when you come into that office, thats typically on a piece of paper on a clipboard, you can now do it all on your phone remotely.

Mosaic recently was recognized as one of 2017s Most Wired Hospitals for its use of smart phones, telehealth and other digital methods of connecting patients and caregivers.

According to the list, conducted in cooperation with the American Hospital Association and Clearwater Compliance LLC, more than 75 percent of the hospitals offer secure mobile messaging with clinicians, almost 70 percent allow prescription renewal requests on mobile devices and 40 percent offer virtual physician visits.

The one constant is technology is going to change, Lehman says. Any time we put new technology in, its not only just the technology, but its actually the process thats important. Its doctors, caregivers, nurses that all come together to outline the best process and then we support it with technology. Thats really the secret sauce.

Patient portals, online centers for patient and caregiver communication and record keeping, are on the rise. In 2014, about 40 percent of family-practice physicians used portals for messaging, and another 35 percent used the technology for patient education. Approximately a third of caregivers used them to prescribe medication or schedule appointments.

Weve actually built patient portal framework where we can actually sync secure messaging for patients. The patients can actually do virtual visits with their doctors online. They can schedule online. We are trying to create that virtual office, Lehman says. Everyone is going to their phones now. They dont want to actually have to pick up the phone and call someone. ... Patients can engage the way they chose to.

The Most Wired Hospitals list recognizes approximately 400 hospitals nationwide for their digital technology efforts to provide innovative tools for patients and caregivers. Childrens Mercy Hospital, Truman Medical Center and the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City area also were recognized. It is the fourth time Mosaic was named to the list, Lehman says.

The patient portal technology also put Mosaic on the list of finalists for the 2017 Innovator Awards, in conjunction with the Most Wired recognition. University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia received one of the three national Innovator Awards for its smartphone app that allows users to track mood, activity and sleep and create an electronic health record.

(Technology) is an enabler, Lehman says. At the end of the day, technology is just a tool. Its the tool that provides the right information at the right time for the clinicians to make the best decisions for our patients.

In the future, the hope is to continue to integrate technology into health care to benefit care givers and patients and provide more opportunities for education, information transmission and improvement, Lehman says. Increasingly, more and more will be in the palm of your hand, he says.

Its continuing to drive more and more to the patients, he says. Not only from the phone, but how do we put more and more technology out into patients homes so they can receive care where they want to be?

See the original post:

Technology plays increasing role in health care - News-Press Now