Patients who check in at their doctors’ offices on Dec. 1 will be in on the ground floor of a new program at St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center. The program is the second of a three-part initiative that will result in electronic health records for each patient.
"This will streamline procedures in all our doctors’ offices," said Meredith Joiner, executive director of physician enterprise. "It will enhance our scheduling, registration and billing procedures, which makes us even more efficient.
"And most important, it will be more convenient for patients in the long run," Joiner continued. "It might take a little longer on their first visit after the new program is up and running, but I doubt they notice too much difference."
The system will be in effect at Great Bend Internists, Central Kansas Women’s Health Center, St. Joseph Family Medicine and Central Kansas Surgical Care. Central Kansas Orthopaedics will be added in a few months.
Patients of all these St. Rose clinics are asked to bring their driver’s license or other photo ID, insurance card and co-pay when they check in.
"By scanning insurance cards and other ID into the new system, the doctor’s office can help ensure medical benefits are not being used by someone who is not authorized to use them," Joiner said.
In addition, patients will be asked for their e-mail address for other computer enhancements at St. Rose. This is optional.
"Initially, we won’t be using it but in the near future patients will be able to go online to review their statements, pay their bills and see reminders of appointments," Joiner explained.
The first phase of this new system started a few months ago when St. Rose doctors’ offices began using iPads to electronically order and refill prescriptions.
In about 18 months, the third phase will complete the electronic-records system, which is called OneCare.
Lance Kellenbarger, St. Rose manager of information technology services, noted that OneCare is a nationwide Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) program. CHI owns St. Rose.
