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RAPID CITY, SD – Regional Health is pleased to announce it is implementing a new outpatient electronic medical records and practice management system at its clinics to enhance patient care and make scheduling and other communication with the clinic easier for patients.
Regional Health Physicians, Regional Health’s multi-specialty physician organization, will begin using the electronic medical records system athenaClinicals at Buffalo Regional Medical Clinic, Dakota Hills Regional Medical Clinic in Sturgis and Queen City Regional Medical Clinic in Spearfish on May 4. The system will be phased into all other Regional Medical Clinics by January 2011.
An electronic practice management system will also be launched at all Regional Medical Clinics on May 4. This practice management software will require patients to fill out new registration paperwork. All patients should bring their insurance cards and photo I.D.s to their first Regional Medical Clinic appointment after May 4.
Adult and pediatric health history questionnaires and the patient registration forms are available at www.regionalmedicalclinic.com by clicking the Patient Portal button at the bottom of the page.
Patients should only have to register under the new system one time and all of the patient’s information will be available when they go to any Regional Medical Clinic. The new system will also make patient scheduling easier.
The electronic medical records transition might mean some minimal changes to a patient’s visit. The most obvious change will be physicians and nurses using laptop computers in the exam room in place of handwritten charts. This will allow patient information to be entered directly into the electronic system.
Some of the greatest benefits for patients will include improved coordination of care and simplified sharing of records between medical providers.
“This means if a patient is referred to another physician within Regional Health Physicians, the records will be available to that physician before the patient arrives,” said Matt Long, Director of Operations for Queen City Regional Medical Clinic.
The system also uses electronic prescription processes, meaning less handwritten prescriptions and greater legibility, which will reduce the chance of medication error.
“Health care organizations across the country are transitioning to electronic medical records,” Long said. “It really is the wave of the future and we knew it was time to jump on board. This will enhance the care we are able to provide to our patients, which is always our priority.”
Regional Health is a not-for-profit, community-based organization that is committed to preserving and strengthening health care for the people in our region. In keeping with our mission of providing and supporting health care excellence in partnership with the communities we serve, Regional Health is comprised of more than 40 health care facilities throughout Rapid City and the Black Hills region. For more information visit www.regionalhealth.com.
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NEWS MEDIA: For more information or to arrange an interview, please call Katie Brown, of the Regional Health PR/Marketing Dept., at (605) 719-5638. Thank you.
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