Exclusive Interview… - Trinitas Hospital

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY PROPELS APPOINTMENT SETTINGINTO THE 21ST CENTURYIn a world in which many people workfull time and often overtime, it is oftendifficult to find time to arrange for diagnosticor pre-admission tests that doctorsrequire. It seems that there are just notenough hours in the day to deal withimportant health matters. At TrinitasHospital, awareness of that issue hasresulted in a service that makes life easierfor patients and their doctors.For the past year, Trinitas Hospital hasbeen at the forefront of customer servicethrough its new, efficient service that benefitsboth physicians and their patients. TheTrinitas Hospital eScheduling program,found on the hospital’s user-friendly website,has helped make it much easier for patientsto be in contact with their physicians andwith the hospital to arrange appointmentsfor diagnostic or pre-admission tests.eScheduling can replace or reduce thebusy signal at the other end of the telephoneline by saving time for patients tryingto contact receptionists or other schedulersin the doctor’s office. Medical officestaff members who schedule tests and proceduresfor patients are under tremendousdaily pressure, dealing with dozens of concernsat the same time throughout the day.By reducing the number of in-coming calls,eScheduling makes it easier for them to dotheir work, which then translates intoimproved patient experiences. Also by usingthe online option, the number of patientsstanding in a doctor’s office, and otherswaiting for their questions and concerns tobe resolved is dramatically reduced. Lastly,the eScheduling option helps physiciansexpedite the process of helping theirpatients with their testing needs.“Before the eScheduling program waslaunched, patients customarily spent timeeither on the phone with a busy receptionistor had to make a specialtrip to their doctor’s office toget information about settingup an appointment for testing,”explains Hilda Artesona,Director of Patient AccessServices and CentralScheduling. “Now, witheScheduling, patients have theoption of filling out a simpleform online whenever theyneed to schedule an appointmentfor a test at the hospital.”On the user-friendly eSchedulingform, patients provide necessary informationincluding the name of their physician,the test or procedure they need to havedone, and alternate convenient dates andtimes. Patients also provide a contact numberso that the Central Scheduling staffcan review appointment availability.Patients are reminded that eScheduling islimited to generating a request for anappointment or test. Availability of thedate and time and other patient informationmust be verified before an actualappointment or test can be scheduled.Thanks to a welcome customer serviceelement, if a patient has a problem completingthe form online, they can engagein an online chat with a CentralScheduling agent who can assist incompleting the form.A variety of customized features makethe appointment setting process easier forall as patients, medical office staff members,and physicians now find that is amuch less complicated and stressfulactivity than it was before.After its first year, the eSchedulingprogram has been a great success, withwell more than 1,000 requests initiatedvia eScheduling. To take advantageof this innovative customer serviceprogram designed to make appointmentsetting less stressful in this fast-pacedworld, visit the hospital’s website,www.trinitashospital.org, forfurther information about eScheduling.AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE (908) 351-0313Sales • Service • InstallationorAUTOMATIC DELIVERIES • LEGENDARY SERVICE(908) 232-9113FUEL OIL • DIESEL • OIL FURNACESBURNERS • BOILERS• Oil Tank Testing, Removal,Installations & Sand Fill,DEP Approved• Tank Protection Plan• Budget Plans/Service ContractsYou’ll LoveOur Rates!SERVING ALL OF UNION COUNTYwww.tomassobrosoil.comFALL 2007 35