We are pleased to share with you some exciting news for Providence In-Home Services – all four Western Washington hospice and home care ministries of Providence Senior and Community Services:
• Providence Home Services-King County (PHS-KC) based in Renton
• Providence Hospice and Home Care of Snohomish County (PHHC) based in Everett
• Providence Hospice of Seattle (PHOS) serving all of King County
• Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice (PSHCH) based in Olympia with offices in Shelton and Chehalis
Our long-awaited change to electronic medical records takes place from May 2008 through March 2009. While this is a big change for us, it should not change the care that we provide our patients nor our valued partnerships with referral sources and other health care providers.
Why are we moving to electronic medical records?
One of the reasons for this change is that the federal government has mandated that Medicare providers like our Providence In-Home Services programs convert to electronic medical records by the year 2010.
The primary reason for our change, however, is to improve our service to you. Electronic health information will allow us to provide a consistent documentation process that minimizes errors and increases accuracy, while also improving communication among your care team members – including physicians.
Quality care for patients and clinical excellence are at the heart of this change. First and foremost, Providence Home Services-King County is always focused on meeting the needs of our patients and improving our ability to offer quality healthcare.
What does this change mean for patients?
For patients served by Providence Home Services-King County, as an example: Starting in October, our Private Duty nurses and Home Health clinicians will begin to bring a small laptop computer into your home to document the visit and services right there with you at the point of care. Next year Private Duty caregivers will be using a cellular phone and a tool called Telephony to document their visit and services. Our health care teams will continue to provide excellent care with the benefit of these new tools.
What about the security of patient data?
Patients’ personal health care information is protected by at least five layers of security within the Providence electronic network. Additionally, each Providence employee signs a HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) and other privacy and non-disclosure agreements which detail their duty and obligation to protect all patient data and devices such as laptops.
What are the dates that the changes will take place for each ministry?
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Go-Live
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Back-Office
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Clinical
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5/1/2008
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PHS-KC
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10/1/2008
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PHOS
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PHS-KC*
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11/1/2008
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PSHCH
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PHOS*
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1/2009
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PSHCH*
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3/1/2009
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PHHC
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PHHC*
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*Back-office go-lives must occur on the first day of the month for billing purposes, but clinical go-lives don't have this constraint.
Who may I contact if I have questions?
At Providence Home Services-King County (PHS-KC), contact:
• Terry Hedding; Interim Director, 425/254-5487 or terry.hedding@providence.org
• Jill Moynihan; Interim Director, 425/525-6814 or jill.moynihan@providence.org
At Providence Hospice and Home Care of Snohomish County (PHHC), contact
• Paula Beatty; Executive Director, 425/261-4803, paula.beatty@providence.org
At Providence Hospice of Seattle (PHOS), contact:
• Rob Luck; Interim Director, 206/320-7396, rob.luck@providence.org
• Peg Rutchik; Interim Director, 206/749-7740, peg.rutchik@providence.org
At Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice, contact:
• Marian Johnson; Executive Director, 360/493-4655, marian.johnson@providence.org
At Providence Senior and Community Services, contact
• Kate O’Neil; In-Home Services Operations Administrator, 425/254-5510 kathleen.oneil@providence.org
• Robert Hellrigel; Chief Executive, 425/254-5432, robert.hellrigel@providence.org
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