Veriphy Report System Enhances Communication and Patient Safety
In July of 2010 the BryanLGH Radiology Department was pleased to introduce Veriphy, a critical results reporting system designed to ensure that potentially life threatening Radiology results reach the patient's physician promptly. Implementation of this system has enhanced clinical communication and improved patient safety.
The radiologist records a short message for the patient's physician, which is delivered to that physician immediately as an alert.
Those alerts are customized to each physician – such as a call to a cell phone, or a text message with a link to a secure server where the physician can listen to the radiologist's message. Each physician has the choice to select a notification process which works best for his/her individual preference.
So why the change? BryanLGH is dedicated to patient safety. If the radiologist has determined that the results are serious enough to warrant a call to the patient's physician, then quick action must be taken. Through the use of Veriphy, the Radiology Department can ensure that each message is picked up. If certain time points have passed, Veriphy notifies the Radiology Department to follow up.
Since implementation, we have watched our turnaround times (the amount of time from when we send the message until the ordering physician hears it) decrease significantly. Currently it takes an average of about 10 minutes for critical results to be relayed; in most cases it happens in just 2-3 minutes. Physicians have told us they take comfort in knowing that Radiology staff is monitoring the calls – they know their patients won't fall through the cracks.
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