Ochsner.org

As patients transfer hospitals, switch treatments, shuffle doctors or evacuate for hurricanes, information has traditionally had the potential to get lost along the way.

In an effort to ensure every patient at every location receives the best possible treatment no matter what the circumstances, Ochsner Health System has created a coordinated care system in which all physicians within our system can access and share patient information instantly to deliver the best results most effectively.

Medical Director of Ochsner Health System – West Bank Region Dr. Yvens Laborde said this model is a differentiator among hospital systems as large and diverse as Ochsner.

“One of the things that actually separates Ochsner and distinguishes us from other providers and systems is the integrated nature of our healthcare system,” Dr. Laborde said.  “That really became apparent after Hurricane Katrina.”

Ochsner patients who were displaced to other parts of the state after Katrina could go to an Ochsner location in Baton Rouge or Hammond and have instantaneous access to their full medical records, Laborde said.

“When a lot of people were struggling to get paper charts that were damaged by the storm, we reopened our clinics and had patients go to Baton Rouge to be seen, accessing their medical information electronically through our Ochsner Clinical Workstation (OCW), which is our version of the paperless medical record,” he said.

And while instrumental in continuing care after a hurricane or other major disaster, Dr. Laborde said electronic medical records and the OCW system are designed to be just as helpful to patients on an everyday basis.

Ochsner also provides an online tool for patients that gives them complete access to their health information from all physicians in Ochsner’s network in one central place.

“We feel that one of the critical ways we can improve patients’ engagement in their care and give them a sense of ownership of their health information is through MyOchsner,” Dr. Laborde said.  “Not only can they directly manage their health information, patients can also communicate directly with their physicians and care team through this secure portal.”

According to Dr. Laborde, the patient can schedule appointments, get appointment reminders, manage their prescriptions, update their insurance information and eventually pay their medical bills through MyOchsner – only a few benefits of enrolling in the service.

Having access to information has allowed patients to take control of their treatment in a way never before possible, Dr. Laborde said.

MyOchsner and electronic medical records put Ochsner on the forefront of the paperless revolution that many hospitals nationwide are taking part in right now, Dr. Laborde said.

“The major drive, as with everything we do here, is a focus on the patient, their quality of care and integration of care for the patient,” he said.  “Our coordinated care model really does improve the entire patient experience.”

To learn more about MyOchsner and to register for an account, click here.