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Living with cancer is often physically and emotionally exhausting, with sometimes complicated treatment programs that can be confusing to follow. In 2023, Sutter Health designed a new app called MediConnect® to help simplify these complex regimens for patients and their families.
Like a savvy Siri, the app—co-developed with AstraZeneca, Inc.—makes it easier for patients to stick to their treatment plans, increasing the likelihood of medication effectiveness and decreasing the chance of the negative side effects from missed or incorrect doses of chemo medications.
Dr. Rajesh Behl, Sutter hematology malignancy specialist and medical director of Sutter's Alta Bates Summit Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the physician lead for the development of MediConnect®. Dr. Behl says the app also makes it easier for cancer doctors at Sutter to monitor patients (i.e., to see how often and how well they take prescribed oral cancer chemo drugs) in order to help them stay on track.
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Sutter Health rolled out a new organizational structure that allows us to focus on the unique needs of the communities we serve and ensure our patients have access to the full breadth of our integrated health system's expertise and capabilities.
Each market is led by a dyad leadership team consisting of a physician leader and administrative leader who partner in the oversight of all operations and care sites in that area. These leadership teams also collaborate across markets and with systemwide clinical service lines and other functions so patients can better access our high-quality coordinated care across the entire network.
Read MoreIn our quest to integrate every facet of a patient's care and experience—from encounters in our physical facilities to digital engagement to home care—and make it accessible from anywhere, we made comprehensive upgrades to our electronic health record and patient-facing My Health Online portal. Optimizing these foundational technologies enables us to take full advantage of the most current and advanced features available and empower physicians and all caregivers with the tools they need to provide exceptional care. Additionally, the enhanced digital infrastructure has made it easier for patients to book online appointments and be seen sooner.
Read Moreautomated appointment text reminders sent since October launch
appointments confirmed by patients via text
average time these programs connected patients to care sooner
in physicians enabled for online scheduling
Our physicians get tens of millions of inbox messages every year. Digital enhancements and improvements we rolled out in 2023 allow patients to directly manage appointments with the click of a button, significantly reducing appointment-related messages to providers.
Sutter also joined an exciting pilot in 2023 with Microsoft and four other health systems that uses a combination of ambient AI and GPT-4 in an effort to automate clinical documentation. It's one way we're exploring how to use digital tools to supplement and enhance the way physicians work and interact with patients.
in-basket messages related to appointment cancellation requests.
in-basket messaging related to ambulatory appointment requests.
A patient's need for care doesn't stop when they leave the hospital or doctor's office.
In 2023, we expanded access to care through new digital tools that enhance wellness and support patient care.
Scout by Sutter Health is an app that aids teens and young adults in managing everyday mental health. Through philanthropic support, we were able to make Scout available at no cost to the first 30,000 users. We also have partnered with universities and health systems to make Scout available to those they serve at no cost.
We also launched our Care Companion Healthy Pregnancy and New Baby digital care plans that proactively support new parents with customized resources complementing their physician's guidance. Thousands of patients have enrolled in the New Baby plan since June 2023, and 66% of expectant mothers are currently enrolled in the Health Pregnancy care plan.
Exciting work is already underway to roll out additional digital care plans for other clinical areas.
By housing orthopedists and podiatrists—and cutting-edge MRI technology—in one location, our new Musculoskeletal Center in Sutter's Central Valley Market offers patients greater convenience and access to holistic and coordinated care. Additionally, the MRI technology gives physicians intricately detailed and accurate images, and its wide-bore design provides a more comfortable experience.
Sutter Health was named among CHIME Digital Health's Most Wired recipients in 2023. The award recognizes organizations for their adoption and integration of technology into patient care and how it positively impacted care delivery. Sutter Health ranked above peers in categories like analytics and data management, population health, infrastructure and patient engagement.
Memorable highlights from this past year.
