Memorial Hermann Physician Network Launches Physician Mobile Communication Solution Throughout Houston
Created by Austin-based physicians, Tracey Haas, D.O., MPH, and Tim Gueramy, M.D, the DocbookMD application will be embedded into MHMD’s Accountable Care Network to enhance communication between its physicians. “MHMD searched for the best technology to put this capability at the fingertips of our physicians at the point of care when referring patients to other physicians,” says D. Keith Fernandez, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the Memorial Hermann Accountable Care Organization (MHACO). “With the ability to send text messages and chat real-time with other physicians in the Accountable Care Network, DocbookMD will help us manage our workload more efficiently and improve patient outcomes.”
“We have worked closely with the MHMD physician advisory team as well as the group’s IT department to ensure the initial roll-out to the Accountable Care Organization network (MHACO) physicians is seamless and immediately impactful on patient outcomes,” says Dr. Gueramy, CEO of DocbookMD. “MHMD is a world-class healthcare organization that often sets the tone for the industry, so that means our collaboration is seen by many as charting a new way forward for healthcare systems, accountable care organizations (ACO) and other health IT solutions to work with one another, rather than in separate silos.”
MHMD decided to launch a physician communication solution to drive work-flow efficiencies and improve the secure flow of critical communications across its huge network of physician practices. “Security is a constant concern of ours even as we look for ways to empower our physician members to improve patient outcomes,” says Dr. Shawn Griffin, Chief Quality and Informatics Officer at MHMD. “A communication solution has to balance speed and ease of access with a HIPAA-secure platform that will also help physicians treat patients efficiently to lower the cost of care across our network.”
DocbookMD, which launched its Docbook Enterprise solution in November of last year to help large hospitals and healthcare groups better manage their critical communications, has been working closely with MHMD’s IT Department to ensure physician contact data is complete and accurate to ensure a seamless roll-out for the first 1,800 MHACO physicians. “Anytime you upload that much data into a mobile communication solution like Docbook Enterprise a certain amount of work is required before going live,” says David Bradshaw, CIO of Memorial Hermann Health System. “Ultimately, the key to a successful launch is to ensure all physician contact information is protected on a well-secured cloud network and to provide proactive physician support in the form of training and post-launch customer support. Docbook Enterprise has made serious strides toward a pre-launch strategy that bodes well for the roll-out.”
“Our goal in adopting this new technology is to enable our physicians to do their job more efficiently, which has a direct correlation to improving patient outcomes,” says Chris Lloyd, CEO of MHACO. “This is the next step in advancing the quality and efficiency of the care we provide within the MHACO.”
For more information about our Docbook Enterprise solution, visit docbookmd.com.
About DocbookMD
DocbookMD, built by physicians for physicians, is a rapidly growing HIPAA-secure messaging application for smartphones, tablets and PC’s, with over 25,000 physician users across 41 states. By putting doctors in control of the technology and transcending practice settings and other medical technology solutions, DocbookMD enables the kind of immediate, secure communication that is changing the face of healthcare. Learn more at docbookmd.com.
About Memorial Hermann Health System
An integrated health system, Memorial Hermann is known for world-class clinical expertise, patient-centered care, leading edge technology, and innovation. The system, with its exceptional medical staff and more than 20,000 employees, serves to advance health in Southeast Texas and the Greater Houston community. Memorial Hermann’s 12 hospitals include three hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, including Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, TIRR Memorial Hermann and the Texas Trauma Institute – a level I trauma center which houses the Life Flight® air ambulance. The system also operates eight suburban hospitals, a second rehabilitation hospital in Katy, three Heart & Vascular Institutes, the Mischer Neuroscience Institute, three Ironman Sports Medicine Institute locations, cancer centers, imaging and surgery centers, sports medicine and rehabilitation centers, outpatient laboratories, a chemical dependency treatment center, a home health agency, a retirement community and a nursing home. As an Accountable Care Organization, the system also offers employers health solutions and health benefit plans through its wholly owned Memorial Hermann Health Solutions. Learn more about the Memorial Hermann Health System.
About Memorial Hermann Physician Network
Formerly known as Memorial Hermann Health Network Providers, MHMD is the Memorial Hermann Physician Network. It is a clinically integrated physician organization comprised of more than 3,500 doctors throughout the greater Houston area. Founded in 1982, MHMD is the largest clinically integrated physician organization in Texas. Our physicians are experienced and board certified, with conveniently located clinical practices throughout the region. Our doctors hold each other accountable to deliver care in a manner that is consistent with current scientific evidence and best practices reporting quality performance and participating in performance feedback in order to achieve and maintain excellence in the practice of medicine. Learn more about the Memorial Hermann Physician Network.
Dave Manzer, DocbookMD, http://docbookmd.com, +1 512-963-9924, [email protected]
Share this article