Communication Innovation in Army Health Care
Ever had a health care question you wish could get answered quickly and accurately- without having to wait on hold or sit in an Emergency Room for hours? Well, for Dewitt Army Community Hospital patients, their answers might be a text message away.
Health care providers at the hospital recently launched a new initiative providing patients and families a venue to get answers to their medical questions without scheduling appointments.
TEAMHealth – Telephone and E-mail Assistance Market – is a program that increases patients’ access to health care by providing other methods to contact professional medical staff in a more timely fashion.
Originally developed in January 2009 and implemented in November, TEAMHealth gives patients the ability to call, text or e-mail health care questions and concerns to a team of trained medical professionals who can help them.
Comprised of a group of registered nurses and nurse practitioners, TEAMHealth staff work closely with primary care providers to provide patients answers to their health care concerns and general information about medical issues. The service also makes it possible for patients to get prescription refills, receive X-ray and lab results, and help patients navigate the health care system, if they have questions about accessing primary or specialty care.
“There should no longer be any reason for you to schedule an appointment, miss work or school, and travel to DeWitt or one of its clinics to obtain simple medication refills or get insight into your lab or X-ray results,” said Charles W. Callahan, commander, DeWitt Health Care Network.
The program is designed to provide patients with the appropriate level of care when they need it, said Lt. Col. Charlotte Hough, a family nurse practitioner in the program. If a patient is suffering from symptoms, and they are not aware of the potential severity of those problems, a registered nurse can talk to them and immediately help the patient receive the appropriate level of care. Additionally, TEAMHealth staff can help patients schedule an appointment, if needed, or help resolve problems patients might be experiencing with a referral.
Currently, patients are placing the majority of inquiries via telephone. However, TEAMHealth nurses are able to respond to patient requests whether they are received via e-mail or text message to a BlackBerry, as well.
“TEAM Health is an important component to DeWitt’s effort to redefine access to care,” Callahan said. “We believe your life is hard enough. Health care should be easy.”
Submitted by Kayla Munro, Army Public Affairs Specialist
Posted by inArmy News, Current Events, social media