scheduling

Grey Bruce Health Services, Owen Sound Site, is the largest facility in an organization of 6 sites. It is also part of a shared information network with the corporations of South Bruce Grey Health Centre, which consists of 4 facilities and Hanover and District Hospital which consists of 1 facility.

ESM (Enterprise Scheduling Management) was implemented at the GBHS-Owen Sound Site in August of 2006. The scheduling implementation is another example of supporting our mission statement and strategic goals through technology. Our mission statement is:

“Patient care is our focus. Our priority is delivering acute and specialized care, where practical, close to home. We innovate, advocate and work hard every day to ensure excellence in health care for our communities.”

Enterprise wide Scheduling takes the patient from the initial request for a hospital appointment to the examination destination. In many cases, it allows the patient the flexibility of choosing the time that is most convenient for their appointment and allows them to complete the registration for this appointment at a time that is convenient. In the New Year the ability to choose the site that is most accessible for the patient or the site that offers the next available appointment will be available.

The central model of scheduling is more patient centred and accommodating. Hours have been expanded to improve access and it reduces the number of registration points and scheduling points.

Enterprise wide scheduling also provides timely information for many of the Provincial Health Care strategies. This discussion will outline the integration of the human touch with the electronic technology available today at the GBHS.

This presentation will cover

• Enterprise wide Scheduling – what does this really mean
• Many benefits to patients within the rural health network
• How does it integrate with other computer applications already in place at GBHS
• Physicians role in scheduling applications
• How electronic scheduling has streamlined the scheduling process for health care providers
• Added flexibility and convenience for patients in their health care
• Lessons learned from electronic implementation
• What next?

This has been an exciting implementation and presented challenges and rewards to those involved.

Presenters:
Pam Matheson (Manager Central Registration & Central Scheduling)