to launch at Baptist Hospital in Miami, Fla. The site will include writ-
ten explanations, downloadable PDFs, photos, diagrams and eventual-
ly videos on everything from where to park to specific pre-op bathing
instructions.
Topics covered on the site will include what items patients should
bring on the day of surgery, information about how they can help pre-
vent surgical site infections, the basics of pre- and post-op care, a list
of hospital phone numbers they'll need, answers to frequently asked
questions and presentations on what their overall experience is going
to look, feel and sound like.
"Some patients are thirsty for as much information as possible and
this site is designed with them in mind," says Rachel Evers, MSN, RN,
CNOR, the hospital's director of surgical services. "The information is
there so they can access it on their own time before surgery. We'll pro-
vide the information in a variety of ways so we're sure it will be there
in the form a patient prefers to receive it."
The ASC at Westmed Medical Group, a multi-specialty practice in
New York and Connecticut, has an online portal and a mobile app,
which patients use to receive pre-op and post-op instructions. The
technology helps patients become more actively involved in their own
care by doing such things as sending messages to their providers,
managing their prescriptions and accessing lab results.
Surgeons like the communication app, too. If they want to change a
patient's medication, they can make the change, contact the pharmacy
and inform the patient — all without having to make a phone call.
Westmed Medical has a roadmap in place to implement more
patient engagement software in the future, such as apps that will
let a staff member in the operating room text a patient's loved ones
with updates during surgery. "Expanding our reach gives patients
options on how to get the care they need and take control of their
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