Do You Hear What Your Patients are Saying? Written by web_developers on December 31, 2014. Posted in Connect. No Comments on Do You Hear What Your Patients are Saying? Consumer Reports surveyed 1,000 Americans regarding the typical complaints they have about their doctors and the No. 1 grievance was “unclear explanation of problem.” That is a rather sobering thought. Many would guess the most popular complaints were waiting time or inconvenient office hours. Those complaints were on the list; however, those pale in comparison to the lack of communication between patient and physician. Each person surveyed was offered a list of common complaints and asked to rate the intensity of the complaint on a scale of one to 10. One meant the patient was not bothered at all and 10 meant most intense. Unclear explanation from the physician garnered the top spot with an average score of 8.3. Rounding out the top five most common patient complaints were: Rushed during an office visit (7.8) Side effects from medication not fully explained (7.6) Long wait for the doctor in exam or waiting room (7.6) Inconvenient office hours (6.5) and The doctor takes notes on the device, not looking at the patient (6.2). While the majority of complaints are inconvenient and non life threatening, but unclear explanations from a physician can be fatal. We know there are more patients in the world than doctors; however, we can’t see a patient as just a number. We can’t do the 10-minute meet and greet, ask a couple of questions, order lab work, prescribe some medication and move on to the next patient. “There should be the thought of accountability and expectations on behalf of the patient,” says Dr. Thompson H. Boyd, a physician liaison at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. “The patient has to be a contributing member of the care team, not just a bystander.” A key to correcting the most common complaint is better care through communication. A strategy to combat poor communication between patient and physician is implementing a teach-back method. This is a way to confirm the information you have provided the patient has been understood by him/her. A patient’s understanding is confirmed when they are able to explain back the instructions and strategies you offered for their treatment. Remember this is not a test of the patient’s intelligence. It is to confirm you have explained treatment and medication clearly and concisely and thus improving the odds of a positive patient outcome. A few sample questions to ask in implementing the teach-back method after you have shared your thoughts are: “I want to be sure that I explained your medication correctly. Can you tell me how you are going to take this medicine?” “We covered a lot today about your condition, and I want to make sure I explained things clearly. So let’s review what we discussed. What are three strategies that will help you control your condition?” “What are you going to do when you get home?” The teach-back or “show me” method takes some extra time, but in the long run, it benefits both the patient and your practice. Now you have the No. 1 patient complaint tackled, you can focus on the other common complaints, and partnering with Sequence Health can help correct those grievances. By implementing our boutique medical call center and 24-hour NurseLine, we can help your patients stay engaged. We also can help with wait times by making patient intake more efficient. Visit us at Sequence Health or call 888.986.3638 to schedule a demo. With Sequence Health, together we can transform care in the new year.
An Sequence Health Holiday Poem Written by web_developers on December 24, 2014. Posted in Other. No Comments on An Sequence Health Holiday Poem In tribute to Clement Clarke Moore, we present to you Sequence Health’s version of the author’s famed poem, “The Night Before Christmas”, written in 1822. ‘Twas the day before Christmas, when all through the medical practice Not a creature was stirring because all the phone calls were being handled by Sequence Health’s boutique medical call center. Team members were typing information with care, knowing Dr. Nicholas soon would be seeing patients there. The patients were nestled all snug in their house, while visions of online seminars danced in their brain. There was no need to leave or get out in the rain as they watched and learned without any pain. When all of a sudden there arose such a clatter, I ran to the phone to see what was the matter. Away to my cell phone I flew like a flash, I slide to unlock it and the button I did mash. The glow of the phone hit my cheek and I seriously wondered to whom I would speak. When what to my inquisitive ears should hear a perky voice saying we are glad you viewed our video dear. The little team member so lively and fair, I knew in a moment I was in good care. With compassion she listened as I described my condition and together we crafted a plan to make it better. Do you struggle to walk or catch your breath when you talk? Is your blood pressure high? Do you eat too much pie? You have a problem and that ain’t no lie, but we can help we won’t deny. You watched the seminar and that’s a key part now let’s make an appointment and get a head start. I was excited down deep in my heart and I wanted to see what would be as my bariatric treatment began I felt like a new man. When I first saw the doc, he gave me a wink. You are perfect, perfect indeed. Yes, oh yes I do believe you can be fitted with a gastric sleeve. I was excited and never enraged, because this bariatric practice was fully engaged. With Sequence Health they did not fret. The medical staff was on the attack thanks to lead and patient track. They followed my progress and made sure that I didn’t falter or lose my step. Records at the practice were meticulously kept. It was so efficient I nearly wept. The treatment is great it is going well. And oh boy do I have a story to tell. I am no longer chubby and plump. I feel better now with less of a rump. Diabetes type 2 is no longer in view, and I can climb up the stairs without gasping for air. I am so happy about my weight-loss surgery and I can safely say without fear of perjury. If you’re a healthcare provider connect with the crowd. We have your new year’s resolution and it’s Sequence Health. You won’t regret, chose Sequence Health and let the engagement begin again and again. Merry Christmas everyone.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time to Get Engaged Written by web_developers on December 19, 2014. Posted in Connect. No Comments on It’s the Most Wonderful Time to Get Engaged It’s the most wonderful time to retool your patient engagement strategies. Everyone knows the best way to achieve more positive patient outcomes and improve quality of care is to be actively engaged with your patients. There are several tools to use to remain engaged with your patients during the holiday season, and MDnetSolutions is your source for increasing patient engagement, streamlining patient management processes and improving outcomes management. Did you send your patients holiday cards this year? This is a great way to maintain the relationship between appointments or procedures. It’s easy to do and really builds chemistry between you and your patients. Be sure to sign the card and say it’s from you and not your practice. Nothing takes the spirit out of the holiday spirit than a generic card addressed from ABC Family Practice. Make it personal just like the care you give to each of your patients. MDnetSolutions can conduct both digital and print campaigns to help grow the visibility of your practice and help you reconnect with those patients who may have lost contact. Our talented and creative communication experts can craft campaigns designed to drive and deliver results. New Toys on Your Wish List Is your digital presence on the Internet not getting the desired increase in foot traffic? MDnetSolutions can retool your existing website, or we can build you a completely new site, showcasing your talents and providing a valuable marketing tool to educate patients about your practice. To enhance the marketability of your website and increase your digital footprint, MDnetSolutions can craft marketing strategies using search engine optimization (SEO) and pay per click (PPC) campaigns customized to fit your needs. By carefully monitoring traffic to your site, MDnetSolutions crafts strategies that get you easily noticed by Google, Bing, Yahoo and other Internet search engines. Do Something for Others It is the season for giving. Why not help your administrative staff by adding some gifts to ease their workload and make your practice run more efficiently? MDnetSolutions has many solutions that fit nicely under the Christmas tree. Is your office staff bombarded by phone calls all day from patients who have questions about their treatment, medication or complaints about a certain health condition? Is the increased call volume keeping you from spending the proper amount of time with patients during in-office visits and hampering them from getting the optimum care? Is your records system out of date and are you shopping for a new electronic medical records system? If you answered yes to any of these questions, MDnetSolutions is the gift for you. We can help you fix those problems and get the new year started with a more efficient and profitable practice. By utilizing our boutique medical call center, your patients remain consistently engaged with your practice. Our call center is more than a medical answering service. Our team members are an extension of your practice. They are sympathetic, use a calming demeanor and take pride in working you’re your patients. Combine the call center with our HIPAA-compliant NurseLine, and your patients have the comfort of knowing answers to their medical questions and concerns are just a phone call away. All About Tracking On Christmas Eve, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), have tracked Santa Claus as he makes his way from the North Pole. Luckily for you, you don’t need a government agency to keep track of your patients. With MDnetSolutions’ web-based LeadTracker™, you can keep track of every patient from initial contact through the entire treatment process with a click of the mouse. If your office staff is tired of searching fruitlessly through mounds of patient files, make sure you have LeadTracker™ on your holiday wish list. MDnetSolutions’ LeadTracker™ is 100 percent customizable and seamlessly integrates with any existing patient management system. The easy-to-use system helps your practice manage information that matters most and aids in information intake, appointment scheduling, outreach efforts and many other time-consuming tasks. As we close 2014 let’s continue to transform patient care together in 2015. From all of us at MDnetSolutions, have a joyous holiday season and a festive and prosperous new year.
Sequence Health Announces Retirement of Founder Rosenzweig Written by web_developers on December 17, 2014. Posted in Company Overview. No Comments on Sequence Health Announces Retirement of Founder Rosenzweig Sequence Health, a fully integrated patient engagement company, today announced the retirement of its founder Rich Rosenzweig. Having founded the company in 2004, Rosenzweig also was president and on the front lines of creating solutions that streamline patient engagement, patient management, and outcomes management for both large and small healthcare providers, hospitals, medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical development companies. During the last decade, Rosenzweig, 60, oversaw the organization grow significantly, and its systems and services play an integral part in hundreds of thousands of surgeries in an industry that doesn’t only change people’s lives, but in many cases, saves their lives. Rosenzweig will remain a consultant with the company during the next 12 months and work closely with Sequence Health CEO Alan Creighton on maintaining the company’s goal of providing customer’s with exceptional services designed to increase patient engagement, streamline patient management processes and improve outcomes management. “Our employees and customers are very important to me and I want you to know that I am a better person today, having met you along the way,” Rosenzweig announced. “At the end of your work day, all of your efforts were directed toward helping people get healthy and to live a better life. They put their life in your hands and you take on that responsibility selflessly to help them recognize their hope. What you do is noble and selfless amid a world that is not quite anywhere near that level of caring for people. I truly admire you for that and am hopeful Sequence Health has helped you to better do that in some small way.” In recognition of Rosenzweig’s founding of the company, Creighton wished the departing president a fond farewell into retirement. “We wish Rich the best in his well-deserved retirement and thank him for his founding of Sequence Health and his contributions to the healthcare industry,” Creighton said. “We are pleased Rich will continue to consult with the company and know that his vision and dedication to our employees and customers has set the foundation and mission of Sequence Health . We look forward to continuing to deliver on that mission, and we wish Rich the best.” About Sequence Health: Sequence Health is a leading provider of digital marketing, patient engagement software and boutique medical call center services. Sequence Health uses powerful strategies that span across the healthcare process to increase patient engagement, streamline patient management and generate desirable outcomes to drive success for healthcare providers. For more information, visit Sequence Health. Media Contact: Todd Callahan , 770-882-2925, [email protected]
Three Qualities Patients Look for when Selecting a Bariatric Surgeon Written by web_developers on December 10, 2014. Posted in Bariatric Surgery. No Comments on Three Qualities Patients Look for when Selecting a Bariatric Surgeon During the debate over healthcare legislation a few years ago, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health conducted a series of polls asking Americans a variety of questions regarding healthcare, including what they look for when selecting a surgeon for an important procedure, like bariatric surgery or an orthopedic procedure. An ideal engagement tool is to share your success with your patients. The response was split down the middle. Forty-eight percent said they would go with a surgeon who successfully operated on someone they knew, and 47 percent said they would pick whichever surgeon had the best track record. While it is understandable the former group was enticed by familiarity, the choice of a bariatric surgeon is too important to simply settle for whatever is convenient. A truly renowned surgeon, like the many employed by practices utilizing services provided by MDnetSolutions, exhibits qualities vital to the surgical and recovery process that run-of-the-mill doctors simply cannot provide. Here are three vital qualities patients look for when selecting a bariatric surgeon. Options – Some surgeons specialize in just one type of weight loss surgery, and they try to push every patient who walks through their doors into that specific procedure. Yet, every patient is unique, with different health problems and weight loss goals. Depending on a patient’s BMI and overall medical history, a renowned weight loss surgeon will recommend a variety of laparoscopic surgical options to meet each patient’s needs. Specifically, while a Lap Band procedure may work for certain patients, others, having trouble controlling their food intake, may be better suited for a sleeve gastrectomy procedure. Patient Connection and Supplemental Support – Many people view bariatric surgery as a silver bullet to weight loss, but it is only the first step in the weight loss journey. It is the job of the bariatric surgeon and his or her staff to give patients every tool possible to lose and keep off excess weight. That is why it is important for a bariatric practice to be supportive and have the capability of tracking the progress of every individual in their patient population by using the LeadTracker™. The LeadTracker™, a web-based tool designed by MDnetSolutions, helps your practice stay connected to the patients well after they leave the operating table and makes sure the patients are doing everything they can to reach their goals. Continuing patient education programs, like the ones created by MDnetSolutions, also provides patients with advice and guidance on how to lose weight after the procedure. By providing support and a team-atmosphere, your practice can enhance its outcomes management and can provide a positive outcome for patients during their weight loss journey. Proven Record – Although bariatric procedures have a relatively low complication rate, patients believe it is important to select a surgeon with an exemplary safety record. As the famed St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dizzy Dean said, “It’s not bragging if you can do it.” Open communication with the patient is crucial for successful patient outcomes. Don’t be afraid to share your success with your patients. It is a great engagement tool, and MDnetSolutions can help design digital marketing campaigns geared to enhance patient engagement. Through our solutions, you are able to provide high-quality healthcare services because we help optimize operational efficiency, increase your brand presence and help grow your practice. To attract the 47 percent of patients who value experience and quality first, let MDnetSolutions develop marketing campaigns geared toward promoting your unmatched expertise, patient care, and track record that makes your practice, whether specializing in bariatric, orthopedic or any other specialty, one of the most successful and highly regarded healthcare facilities in the nation. To learn more, visit us at www.MDnetSolutions.com, as together we can transform healthcare. Note: PRNewswire helped contribute to this post.
Rethinking Your EMR System Written by web_developers on December 5, 2014. Posted in Manage. No Comments on Rethinking Your EMR System As a kid I remember spending hours planning imaginary road trips using the Rand McNally Atlas. I was an only child and had to entertain myself somehow. Living in North Carolina, I would plan trips to Laramie, Wyo., Pierre, S.D., excursions into Mexico and to exotic locales such as Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. I meticulously carved out the route from my home to my selected destination, much like we do today by typing in our starting and ending point in a GPS or some other navigational system. The old paper atlas of my youth has gone digital, much like our medical records. However, unlike simply pushing a couple of keys on the screen embedded in the dashboard of your car, the transition from paper to digital when it comes to electronic medical records (EMR) has been anything but smooth. The government-led transformation of healthcare information has become a taxing process for the healthcare industry. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, office-based physicians using an EMR increased from 48 percent in 2009 to 78 percent last year. However, some medical practices are still using the old paper format. One of the major solutions to increasing patient engagement is an EMR system. Doctors are aware of this and most are eager to go digital. The goal of an EMR system is to make the process of patient recordkeeping easier, more accurate, more comprehensive and more efficient. It helps enhance patient care and improve patient outcomes. However, many doctors are not happy with their current system. In an article appearing on www.politico.com, American Medical Association President Steven Stack called electronic health records systems as “infuriating and cumbersome.” Healthcare professionals agree with Stack’s opinion. “We’re basically key-punch operators, transcriptionists having to input the data ourselves,” said James Gilbaugh, a physician in Wichita. “It has essentially tripled the time to complete a medical record. How do you accomplish that when we are already working 12 to 14 hours a day?” Gilgaugh’s contemporaries echo the Kansas doctor’s sentiments about EMR systems. In this year’s national survey by the MPI Group and Medical Economics, 70 percent of physicians described their EMR investment as not worth the effort, resources and cost. The main complaint (67 percent) was the functionality of the system, followed by cost (48 percent) and poor customer service from the EMR vendor (33 percent). Instead of making the doctor’s office run more efficiently, the EMR system is becoming problematic. In terms of quality of care made possible by EMR use, 45 percent of physicians reported their EMR system made patient care worse. A staggering 69 percent said their current system posed an even greater threat to care coordination. At MDnetSolutions, we are the experts in developing solutions to increase patient engagement, streamline patient management processes and improve outcomes management. Our EMR solution can bolster your ability to better manage your patients. Many EMR programs require you to conform to their system, but our web-based system is easy to use and configures seamlessly with any existing records system. We are able to replicate the way your practice manages patient encounters. From initial contact with your practice to post-operative procedures and continuing education, MDnetSolutions’ EMR system accurately records patient information to help reduce errors and aid in your patients receiving optimum care. Our EMR system eases patient intake, insurance verification, scheduling consultations, surgeries and follow-up visits. Combine our EMR system with our other patient management solutions, like the LeadTracker ™, our boutique medical call center and our HIPAA-compliant NurseLine, staffed around the clock by registered nurses, and your practice will be running more efficiently and effectively in no time. Our EMR solution helps eliminate the need for paper and puts an end to costly transaction fees. Your practice also saves on having to hire additional office staff. By partnering with MDnetSolutions, you spend more time taking care of your patients and less time being an administrator to your practice. Don’t delay, visit www.MDnetSolutions.com today or call 888.986.3638 and schedule a demo. Together we can transform healthcare.
Why Take a Gamble, Let MDnetSolutions Handle Your Patient Phone Calls Written by web_developers on December 2, 2014. Posted in Manage. No Comments on Why Take a Gamble, Let MDnetSolutions Handle Your Patient Phone Calls Is your practice answering the phones in a timely and compassionate manner? Does lack of proper phone management interfere with your patients getting the proper care they deserve? Every call missed hurts not only your revenue, but more importantly your reputation. Don’t gamble when it comes to patient engagement. Let MDnetSolutions full-service, boutique orthopedic call center solve these problems for you. As a seamless extension to your practice, our orthopedic call center provides the timely and compassionate assistance your patients need. We handle scheduling appointments right into your current scheduling book and we perform appointment reminders and rescheduling. Because our trained staff is here to serve, your patients speak to a live enthusiastic voice, eliminating the need to leave a message after hours or during high-volume call times. Not only do we provide your patients with top-notch scheduling services, MDnetSolutions also offers you a 24/7 NurseLine, providing access to a nurse triage servic, providing access to a nurse triage service staffed by professional RNs. Your patients are engaged around the clock, as our professionally-trained, HIPAA-compliant staff handles each call with dedication and compassion. 24/7, full-service, boutique orthopedic call center NurseLine When your practice teams with MDnetSolutions, your patients are always connected to you. Reach out and connect with us today. Be sure to visit our booth #27 at OrthoSummit 2014 and schedule a demo. Together we can transform patient care.
Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours From Sequence Health Written by web_developers on November 26, 2014. Posted in Other. No Comments on Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours From Sequence Health As we begin traveling around the country this Thanksgiving to visit family and friends, it is time to assess our blessings and express our gratitude. At Sequence Health, each employee had an opportunity to share what he or she is most thankful for during this holiday season. Since we are a creative bunch at Sequence Health, designing top-notch websites and crafting search engine marketing, among other solutions to grow your practice’s patient intake, we added an artistic flair to the Thanksgiving festivities. Sequence Health LaTonya Reid, left, and Brice Kennedy helped create and design “Tom the Thankful Turkey.” Thanks to the creative minds of LaTonya Reid, our key account manager; Kris Altiere, our art director, and Brice Kennedy, a graphic designer, “Tom the Thankful Turkey” was born. During the days leading up to Thanksgiving, Sequence Health employees jotted down what they were most thankful for this year. The notes varied from being thankful for their religious faith, to family and friends, to health and overcoming a disease, to having a job. No matter our situation, we all have something to be thankful for during this time. Regardless of how bleak or dark it seems, there is something, nevertheless how minute, we can express our gratitude. Whether it be preparing for a festive feast with friends and family and watching football on Thursday, to having a day off, to shopping on Black Friday, be thankful for this time. Here’s to You We have enjoyed tremendous success and growth in 2014, and we want to thank all our clients. To our friends who were introduced to Sequence Health at a trade show, found us at Sequence Health or learned about us through word of mouth and forged a relationship, we want to express our sincere gratitude. We hope our patient engagement, patient management and outcomes management solutions have helped enhance your practice, and your patient population has benefited from partnering with us. We look forward to serving you in the future and continuing our fruitful relationship. When your patients and their families gather around the Thanksgiving table today, we hope they mention your practice and how thankful they are for the treatment they received under your care. We hope the LeadTracker™, our online patient seminars, medical boutique call center and 24/7NurseLine played a part in the positive patient outcome. If you are not a client of Sequence Health, give us a call at 888.986.3638 and speak to a sales representative or request a demonstration. We have the right solutions for you and your patients. Together we can transform healthcare. Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt From all of us at Sequence Health, have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
Online Seminars a Life Saver for Bariatric Patients Written by web_developers on November 18, 2014. Posted in Bariatric Surgery, Convert. No Comments on Online Seminars a Life Saver for Bariatric Patients Severe obesity is a serious health concern, and is reaching epidemic levels within the United States. As a national issue, it is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths a year due to its associated life threatening conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney failure. Shockingly, living with severe obesity decreases a person’s lifespan by an average of 20 years; when you consider disabilities caused by strokes and other events, the potential impact on a person’s quality of life is incalculable. However, there are options thanks to weight loss procedures performed at the many world class facilities such as MountainView Weight Loss Center in Las Cruces, N.M., Park Nicollet Bariatric Surgery Center in Minneapolis and several other bariatric practices around the country that have partnered with Sequence Health. Together we provide long term-solutions to bolster patient engagement, improve patient management and generate positive patient outcomes. For individuals suffering from severe obesity, attempts at weight loss can be a challenging cycle of disappointment and negative reinforcement. Traditional weight loss methods like diet and exercise often fail to deliver the results needed for a severely obese person to reach and maintain a healthy weight. This lack of sustainable results can result in a sense of hopelessness and apathy that overwhelms the seriousness of underlying health concerns. To give severely obese individuals a better chance at an improved quality of life, a more effective option is needed. This is why many bariatric programs have teamed with Sequence Health to provide online seminars, housed on the practice’s website. These are designed to attract new patients and inform the patient of his or her treatment options. They also have the opportunity to view the video from the comfort of their home and do not have to travel, which for some severely obese people is an arduous task. “The online course is an alternative to attending one of our regularly scheduled seminars, in-person,” said Stephan Myers, MD, FACS, who works at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “The online bariatric course provides information to help you decide if bariatric surgery is right for you. It’s a convenient way to learn about our bariatrics program from the comfort of your home, at your personal computer.” Combine Sequence Health’ online seminars with our web-based LeadTracker™, which captures and tracks your patients from initial intake through every stage of the patient process under your care, and you are armed with the right tools to provide optimum care for your patients. Fortunately weight loss procedures are now more practical, viable and more easily accessible than ever before for a wider range of patients. A dedicated team of experienced specialists and surgeons use only the latest technology and the most proven methods to provide truly world class care. For anyone curious about the many outstanding and proven bariatric procedures available, an online seminar is the best way to learn about the surgery. With a wide range of treatment to choose from, any patient will be guided toward the exact strategy that’s right for them. Because bariatric surgery is not a one-size-fits-all procedure, highly experienced surgeons work closely with each and every patient throughout the process, from inquiry through post-op, to ensure all patients receive the top-notch care they need. This is where the LeadTracker™ proves to be a valuable tool. With one click of the mouse, you can tell where each patient is in the process. Because severe obesity is a life threatening concern, anyone dealing with its effects, limitations and consequences simply can’t afford to wait any longer before taking action. If your practice does not have an online seminar presence or a way to track the progress of your patients, your practice is not working as efficiently as it could be, and your patients are suffering. With the LeadTracker™, your practice runs more efficiently and is more productive, as the program simplifies and streamlines patient intake, appointment scheduling and outreach efforts. It’s a win for your patient population and for your practice. Don’t delay, visit Sequence Health today or call 888.986.3638 to schedule a demonstration.
Don’t Get Disconnected With Your Patients Written by web_developers on November 7, 2014. Posted in Bariatric Surgery, Connect. No Comments on Don’t Get Disconnected With Your Patients In an article published in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, researchers from the University Health Network in Toronto are trying to learn why more than half of patients referred for a bariatric operation did not ultimately have the procedure. The researchers from the four hospitals comprising the University Health Network – Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – analyzed data from 1,644 patients. These patients were referred to the university’s bariatric surgery program between June 2008 and July 2011. Only 45 percent became bariatric surgical patients. Of the ones not having surgery, 30 percent didn’t even make it to the patient orientation session, the first step after getting the physician referral. “The majority of attrition appears to be the result of patient self-removal,” the authors of the article theorized. These findings seem to reiterate what Karla Tacey, the director of bariatrics at MountainView Regional Hospital in Las Cruces, N.M., has tried to emphasize. She believes connecting and staying engaged with bariatric patients is a must in order to gain positive results. “It takes so much for a patient to pick up that phone and say I want to have bariatric surgery. It’s scary,” said Tacey, who along with Dr. Frank Felts has seen the MountainView Weight Loss Center grow to nearly 60 patients a month in a little more than two years. Unlike a routine procedure, like gall bladder surgery, bariatric patients go through several steps. In the University Health Network’s program, patients endure several assessments, including an orientation followed by a nursing consultation, a nutrition class, a dietician assessment and an evaluation by a social worker. The patient is evaluated by a psychologist and has a final consultation with the surgeon prior to actually undergoing the procedure. During each of these steps, clinical experts evaluate whether the patient is a candidate for the procedure. There are so many steps in the process, it’s no wonder there is a high attrition rate of patients falling out of the program. Moving these 1,000-plus patients through the multi-stage process is comparable to herding cats. You are not sure where they are going to go and ultimately some will fall through the cracks. Had the University Health Network used a patient tracking solution, chances are the attrition rate would have been much lower. Perhaps the LeadTracker™, an innovative, web-based tool created by MDnetSolutions, would net more positive results for the hospital network. With the HIPAA-compliant solution, a doctor can track a patient’s progress from initial intake through every step of the patient cycle. A doctor can track a patient’s progress with a simple click of a mouse, saving time and enhancing the patient/physician experience. “It is a partnership,” Tacey said. “Bariatric surgery is a long process and you have to stay on top of these patients. If you don’t have a tracker or a method for watching these people, you will lose them.” University Health Network surgeon Fayez Quereshy, who was lead author of the study, has collaborated with his colleagues and they are currently testing whether a 40-question patient survey should be completed before orientation. The goal is to identify patients who are at risk for not having the operation and then have evaluation experts provide the proper support upfront to help guide the patient through the process. “If a patient has signs and symptoms of depression for example,” Dr. Quereshy said, “we can make sure he or she sees the psychiatrist first.” If University Health Network used The Leadtracker™, Dr. Quereshy could track the patient who is seeing the psychiatrist first and see how that patient has progressed. He also can see when a patient has been cleared by a social worker, completed a nutrition class or completed a nursing consultation and is ready for a final consultation with the surgeon. By doing some handholding, patients feel more secure and are more likely to go through with the surgery. The LeadTracker™ can help an organization maximize its patient relationship management and increase the chances for positive patient outcomes. It also can save a weight loss center or hospital on resources lost due to patients dropping out of the program.” Check us out at www.MDnetSolutions.com or schedule a demo. Click here to learn more about the LeadTracker™.