Patient-physician communications just a click away
by Danielle Wong Moores
Physicians and patients at MCG Health System will soon be able to communicate via a secure Web site that will also house basic components of the patient’s medical record. This is the latest step in MCG Health System’s goal of moving toward an entirely paperless medical record and will also support the health system’s philosophy of patient- and family-centered care.
My HealthLink (www.MCGHealth.org/MyHealthLink) is a pilot project that will begin in three MCG clinics. Patients will be invited to register at the clinic, but can access their secure site from any computer. Several services are available:
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Personal health history: Patients can input as much of their personal health history as they prefer, including current medications, immunizations, allergies, medical procedures and doctors’ visits. For patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions, My HealthLink provides an online diary to track glucose levels and other important information. This history helps patients manage their own health. Patients may grant access to their personal history to family members, health care advocates or their doctors. This information may be particularly helpful to doctors during clinic visits or hospital stays.
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Private and secure messaging: Patients can send a non-emergency message to their doctor requesting an appointment, a prescription refill or to simply ask a question. Most messages will receive responses within 24 hours during regular business hours. Doctors can also send lab results through the system.
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Medication safety: My HealthLink provides access to the same database of information that doctors use to get drug information and check drug interactions. Patients can learn about their medications and how they interact with other medicines, food or herbal remedies.
The private and secure site meets the stringent federal government standards for Internet transactions and also complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Three MCG physicians will start the project and enroll interested patients: Dr. Mary Hughes of the Augusta MS Center at MCG, Dr. Paul Forney of family medicine and Dr. Andrew Muir of pediatric endocrinology.
Dr. Hughes, who will study the effectiveness of the system through a project spearheaded by the MCG Center for Patient and Family Centered Care, believes enhanced communication will be the ultimate benefit of the program. “Health care is a partnership,” said Dr. Hughes. “The patient has his or her role, as does the doctor. I see My HealthLink as providing patients with a tool to manage all their health information and to put them in charge of their health. From a physician viewpoint, that type of empowerment is a very valuable thing and very positive for our patients.”
MCG Health System’s philosophy of patient- and family-centered care aims to give patients choices, tools and a voice to speak up and become full partners in their own health care. “My HealthLink is another important step we’re taking on our journey toward patient- and family-centered care,” said Pat Sodomka, senior vice president of Patient- and Family-Centered Care. “Our organization is committed to this philosophy and to the benefits and improvements in care it offers to our patients.”