Ozarks eSignature Experience
About Ozarks Healthcare
Ozarks Healthcare in West Plains, Missouri serves a large geographic area with a heavily dispersed patient population. In order to better coordinate quality care across their entire coverage area, they decided to consolidate onto a single platform using MEDITECH Expanse. To ensure an efficient and paperless registration process throughout the entire Ozarks Healthcare network, Access eForms was chosen as their patient eSignature solution of choice. The move to Access eForms solutions has had a positive impact on the registration process at Ozarks Healthcare. The switch has significantly reduced the time spent registering a patient by up to 50%, which allows staff to provide more attention and care to each individual patient upon arrival.
“…everything was paper. We would order new forms on a bi-weekly basis – boxes of paper. I would say we’re saving probably 5 minutes per registration now with the eSignatures.”
– Dewayne Cook, Patient Access Manager
Projected Yearly ROI
Staff Time Saved
Eliminated Paper Tons
Key Takeaways
- Saving 5 minutes with iPad enabled registration versus when they used paper processes for consents.
- Complete, and legible consents with automated time stamps instantly route electronically to the patients chart.
- Eliminates boxes of paper consents they used to purchase and scan in manually.
System Details
Location: Arkansas & Missouri
Bedsize: 114 Beds
Type: Connected Facilities, Clinics & Behavioral Health
Vendor Replacement: Yes
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Meet Patients Where they are with FOCUS
The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, and patient eSignature solutions are no exception. Over the past 20 years, Access eForms has played a significant role in setting the standard for this type of technology.
Early versions of patient eSignature 1.0 used a rudimentary electronic clipboard to capture patient eSignatures on all their registration forms. As technology has advanced alongside patients’ willingness to engage in technology-enabled processes, so too has the patient eSignature experience. eSignature 2.0 introduced the use of LCD devices paired with laminated forms, which virtually eliminated all paper from the process and has been the standard eSignature solution for well over a decade. Now, we are on the cusp of a new era in patient eSignature solutions: eSignature 3.0 with Focus.
Mobile Device Trend DATA
Changing Patient Intake Expectations
85%
97 percent of Americans now own a cellphone, and 85 percent own a smartphone, which is up 35 percent since 2011.
90%
9 out of 10 health systems overall are positioning themselves with a mobile, digital approach within the next 5 years.
79%
Nearly 80 percent of smartphone users have made a purchase on their smartphone, in the last 6 months.
1%
Error rates for paper consents versus electronic "eConsents" decreased from 32 percent to 1 percent from implementing electronic processes.
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Focus FAQ's
How can a Focus business process be extended to a patient inside the hospital?
For a patient that is registered, or once the initial registration is complete, the patient is guided to scan a QR code within the registration area. That prompts to enter a code in which is present on the nurses or registrars workstation. The code can be delivered to the patient via text, and/or email, and once clicked, a dual authentication process will be launched for the patient to interact with subsequent forms.
How can a focus business process be extended to a patient outside the hospital?
Focus for usage usage outside the hospital, the patient is delivered a link by email, or text to innate the dual authentication process, allowing for access to forms or business process. Once complete, the patient can interact and complete subsequent forms. In other circumstances, this can also be initiated via the hospitals patient portal.
What if a patient isn't comfortable using their own device, or isn't comfortable to signing documents electronically at all?
If the patient is not comfortable using their own device, the hospital can utilize a backup device at the hospital such as LCD, TOPAZ, or iPads. If a paper form is necessary in the event that a patient is not comfortable using electronic devices, forms can be printed on demand at the facility, or alternatively sent remotely to the patient for printing.
How does Focus utilize Material Design from Google?
Material Design by Google is a wonderful toolset that ensures the best possible user experience. Given that good patient and clinician experiences is paramount, we have heavily leaned upon the material design ecosystem in building Focus.
Does Focus Leverage Multifactor Authentication?
Yes, the utilization of multifactor authentication is a staple of Focus.
Is a witness signature still required for patient device eSignature?
This is more of a question of policy than technology. Through certain technology and methods, we are able to ensure, according to the law, this electronic signature does belong to the patient and this can be definitive in court. The purpose of witness signature historically has been to attest that this individual has signed this document. So if a hospital still wants a witness signature, given that technology accomplishes this goal, that is a matter of policy.
Can we create our own forms?
We are helping you move beyond forms which is moving beyond a static paper form style, to a process that is based on dynamic and responsive processes focused on experience. Focus design studio, which leveridges Material Design, enables forward business process that presents beautifully on any device.
How does this enable a bring your own device (BYOD) goal?
With Focus, we are enabling a patient to use their own device to capture signatures which is supported by Google Material.
Do the electronically signed documents go into the patients chart?
Yes, all docs signed through Focus automatically flow into the patients chart, and can be additionally routed to any other electronic destinations that meet the hospitals unique business processes or needs.
How do you ensure forms are not lost?
We are able to route electronic documents to capture those signatures in a linear workflow fashion or a concurrent workflow fashion. All business processes are tracked as well to ensure forms are never lost.
Can you collect signatures from multiple people?
Yes, different business processes may require signatures from multiple individuals. We are able to route electronic documents to capture those signatures in a linear workflow fashion or a concurrent workflow fashion. All business processes are tracked as well to ensure forms are never lost.
Can this be used for back office business processes?
Yes, Focus can be leveraged for numerous processes including HR, Back Office, and Materials Management.
Can we connect business processes with organizations outside our hospital?
Yes, Focus enables business processes to be securely extended to other stakeholders involved with a given business process. This could involve other organizations or other individuals associated with the patient.
Can patient data populate Focus?
Yes, patient data can flow into a Focus experience in multiple ways. Most commonly, HL7 messages that result from your Healthcare business processes can automatically populate a database with that new information and from there Focus can display updated patient data that is stored in that database... this is particularly useful for Patient Demographic information and a good example would be an HL7 ADT feed. Alternatively, FHIR APIs can be used to minimize database storage by exchanging relevent information (patient data, visit data, user info, etc.) in real time as the Focus experience is initiated. FHIR APIs are the direction Access would like to guide our customer base but we understand not everybody is/will be ready for that. As such, we created FHIR House, a utility that not only mobilizes all things FHIR-related, but also conviently converts HL7 messages into FHIR so as to allow those custoemrs still heavily reliant unpon HL7 for data exchange to make full use of what Focus has to offer.
Can this support research consents?
Yes, we are able to support numerous business applications that require the capture of signature from patients and the distribution of those business processes to multiple stakeholders.