Empower-ExitCare-NYCH Partnership Meets Patient and Efficiency Needs

Oct. 5, 2010 - PRLog -- OVERVIEW:
New York Community Hospital (NYCH), located in the Midwood/ Madison Park section of Brooklyn, New York, has seen many changes since the hospital was founded in 1929. Chief among these has been an influx of Russian-speaking people moving into the area, ultimately comprising more than 70 percent of the patient population.

CHALLENGE:
In the hospital’s emergency department (ED), the staff needed more support in meeting the special needs of its unique community while maintaining standards of top-quality healthcare. Continuing efforts to improve efficiencies, keep costs down, and enhance patient care were also part of the challenge.

SOLUTION:
State-of-the-art patient discharge instructions (DIs), translated into Russian, improved patient education and compliance. Later, when a new ED information system was installed, NYCH requested the company partner with ExitCare to retain the Russian DIs.

IMPROVING PATIENT EDUCATION:
In 2005, NYCH began using the ExitCare Patient Education System to provide
comprehensive discharge instructions (DIs) to patients leaving the ED. “Previous instructions given to patients were inadequate,” said Dr.Edward Stolyar, Medical Director of the NYCH ED. “We were handing out photocopies with insufficient information, in English only. They just weren’t working for our patients. The ExitCare DIs are well written, comprehensive, and cover a wider range of topics than other patient education companies provide,” said Dr. Stolyar. Written by physicians, peer-reviewed, and easily accessible, ExitCare DIs provide comprehensive and detailed information that helps educate patients about their conditions, treatments, and follow-up care. Of special significance for NYCH is the fact that ExitCare documents are translated into Russian. “We’ve noticed an improvement in patient compliance among our patients since we started using the ExitCare documents,” said Dr. Stolyar. “This has been particularly important in areas such as wound care where consistent and timely patient follow-up is critical for good care.”

STREAMLINED ED OPERATIONS:
In the summer of 2008, the NYCH ED contracted with Empower Systems®, a company specializing in all facets of computerized documentation. With Empower, NYCH achieved significant improvements in ED efficiency, ranging from improved workflow to more accurate coding and reimbursement. “As with any medical facility still using paper and pen, the NYCH ED was struggling with lengthy processes, documentation errors, slow workflow, and other issues,” said Empower Systems. “Our computerized systems are easy to learn and offer electronic charting that improves documentation, patient tracking, and communication among providers.” By electronically capturing all clinical information for a patient from admission to discharge, the Empower System also helps to improve accuracy, so important in reducing malpractice litigation and ensuring compliance with government and professional standards.

When transitioning to the Empower software, however, NYCH asked the company to retain ExitCare DIs. “The ExitCare documents are superior,” said Dr. Stolyar. “The DIs contain specific and complete information for thousands of conditions and they are written and referenced by ED physicians. Plus, they are available in Russian. We haven’t had a single complaint about the documents or their translations from our patients.”

CONCLUSION:
The NYCH ED has benefited from the ExitCare/Empower partnership. Dr. Stolyar suggests that other EDs take a serious look at what the two companies offer. “The Empower and ExitCare programs have worked well for us,” said Dr. Stolyar. “We are very happy with the results.”

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EmpowerSystems specializes in all facets of EHR software. The user-friendly, comprehensive solutions are Built By Doctors For Doctors and interface with any Core HIS, document 100% of clinical info, and bring Hospitals paperless in less than 30 days.