Committed to Learning - Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine ...

School of MedicineHappenings* reducing unnecessary testing* providing doctors remarkably fast accessto results from tests at local hospitals -- insome cases, doctors have the results lessthan an hour after writing the orders* giving doctors secure, instant access topatient information when they are takingcalls after hours or covering for fellowphysiciansWith these advantages, it’s easy to see whyin a national survey, more than half of the peoplesurveyed said that, other factors being equal,they would choose a physician who was usingelectronic health records.Looking to the future, we hope to implementthe necessary training and security steps neededto allow local emergency room physiciansto access patients’ records, providing instantinformation when every minute counts. Wealso plan to implement a module that allowspatients to interact with our practice online --scheduling appointments, refilling prescriptions,communicating securely with doctors and nurses,and checking on insurance payments or payingbills.Getting the electronic health recordssystem operational has not been a bed of roses,by any means. Despite all the planning, thewalk-throughs and the dry runs, there havebeen glitches that we are working to address.In addition to a lot of positive feedback, therehas been negative feedback as well. Our surveysshow, fortunately, that satisfaction is increasingas physicians become more experienced with thesystem.One of our physicians, Dr. Larry Dial, SOMClass of 1999, put it well when he wrote a yearago, “Our current system delivers a high level ofservice with limited resources; but with expandingwork loads, teaching and documentationrequirements, the current system cannot sustainitself. Implementation of Touchworks will bechallenging and tiring initially, however, withcontinued utilization of the system the rewardswill be exponentially returned.”As we near the point of having an essentiallypaperless system, it is my distinct opinion thatthe diligent work of our physicians and staff inembracing this very complex process will makeMarshall a model for other academic practices aswe all move forward in the health informationtechnology world.Congratulations to Dr. MufsonThe School of Medicine AlumniAssociation board of directorsunanimously voted to honor Dr.Maurice A. Mufson by naming him as theAssociation’s 2007 honorary alumnus duringInvestiture on May 4, 2007. Dr. Mufson is along-time member of the School of Medicineand served as the founding chair for thedepartment of Internal Medicine from July1976 – June 2000. He is currently the chairemeritus. He and his wife, Diane, are generoussupporters and have established the Dr.Maurice A. & Diane W. Mufson Scholarshipfor the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicinegiven to an entering medical student andthe annual Mufson Award for an outstandingfourth-year medical student that excels in theDepartment of Medicine and plans a career inInternal Medicine. Dr. Bradley J. Richardson,Class of 1993, and president of the School ofMedicine Alumni Association, presented thehonorary award to Dr. Mufson.