Liaisons Enroll 558 Physicians to Date
Referring physicians are taking advantage of UAB Health System’s (UABHS) innovative Ambassador Program, which gives them quick access to their patients’ medical records. Once enrolled in the program, participating physicians can log in through a secure Web site and view lab results, patient documents, and other information about their patients.
The program offers many benefits to these physicians, including more timely and complete access to patient records, improved continuity of care, and elimination of redundant paperwork. Its success is due largely “to our dedicated physician liaisons, who spend many hours meeting with physicians around the state explaining the program – its workings, benefits, and security protocols – and providing personalized training on navigating the Ambassador site,” says Director of Physician Services, Referral Development, and Communications Mary M. Gibson, RN, BSN.
Together, Physician Services Manager Kimberly D. Hummel, RN, MSN, and physician liaisons Amy L. Tunmire, RN, BSN, and Tracy Y. Moseley, RN, BSN, have enrolled more than 558 physicians in the program since it began in summer 2007.
Physician Communication Specialist Beth Nichols manages the program in the Physician Services Department, following security protocols to grant access to the site to referring physicians and link them to their individual patients.
Hummel also credits Health System Information Services and Web Development Director Geoff Gordon with helping develop the site for optimal communications between referring physicians and UABHS.
“The Ambassador program has enabled the Health System to provide service recovery for one of our largest complaints from referring physicians — communication. With better communication, our participating physicians feel more involved in their patients’ care. Enhancing access to patient information also has improved our relationships with many referring physicians who were not satisfied by the perceived lack of communication from our Health System,” Hummel says. “We have heard only positive feedback about the program, and all physicians who sign up say it will be very helpful to have a comprehensive record of their patient’s care at UAB.”
In December 2008 alone, physicians enrolled in the program logged into the encrypted Ambassador site more than 1300 times, viewing 896 lab results and 526 patient documents.
Hummel and William D. Jordan Jr, MD, professor and chief, Section of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, will present information on the Ambassador Program at the national Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society meeting in April.
Gibson says that Hummel, Tunmire, and Moseley embody the personalized services and care for which UAB is known. “Their efforts to enhance timely, effective communications with physicians throughout Alabama improve overall patient care and encourage referrals to our organization. The program’s physician Ambassadors know they can access in minutes the answers they need to provide the best care to their patients,” she says.