Staying connected: Baptist Health recognized for enhancing coordinated care and patient satisfaction with shared digital health record

Baptist Health has achieved a major milestone in the delivery of seamless, high-quality care throughout Northeast Florida with its Community Connect program. The health system recently earned Epic Connect Accreditation + (Plus) – an elite designation demonstrating the advanced adoption and effective use of the top-tier electronic health record (EHR) to support coordinated care, clinical excellence and innovation. Baptist Health stands among a select group of just 14 health systems in the U.S. awarded this designation.

Baptist Health Community Connect gives participating independent and community practices access to the same EHR platform used by Baptist Health that might not otherwise be available to them. By extending access to the platform’s connectivity and advanced capabilities, practices can access a patient’s medical history across the continuum of care. This enhances informed decision-making at the point of care and supports the delivery of high-quality, coordinated care throughout the community.

For patients, this means it is easier for them to view their health information in one place. For example, a patient who sees a participating Community Connect dermatologist outside the Baptist Health network can still view their visit summaries, test results, images and medications through the same platform used for their primary care and hospital records.

“The + accreditation signifies how we are successfully using technology to create a more connected care experience,” said Aaron Miri, DHA, FCHIME, CHCIO, executive vice president and chief digital and information officer at Baptist Health. “By ensuring every provider in a patient’s journey has the same information at their fingertips, we are improving outcomes so patients can get back to doing the things they love.”

Enhancing the patient experience

Baptist Health Community Connect supports holistic, coordinated care across every stage of the patient journey. Patient benefits include:

• Centralized health information: Patients can use the MyChart patient portal, which offers 24/7 access to medical records, test results, health summaries, billing information, ways to message physicians and request appointments from a single app;
• Enhanced continuity of care: Providers across participating practices can see the same up-to-date information, reducing gaps, delays and repeated tests that lead to better outcomes;
• Improved access to care: Patients can continue to see their trusted physicians while benefiting from a connected health record system; and
• Increased satisfaction: A seamless care experience and convenient digital tools lead to an improved patient experience.

Empowering physicians

Baptist Health Community Connect offers several benefits to physicians, including:

• Comprehensive patient overview: Sharing comprehensive health information across participating practices streamlines care;
• Streamlined documentation: Reduces administrative burden and simplifies workflows so physicians can focus on their patients;
• Ongoing support: Hands-on training and ongoing platform support to improve efficiency and quality of care;
• Care models: Access to Baptist Health’s evidence-based care models, including optimized workflows for conditions such as sepsis; and
• AI-driven insights: Access to predictive tools that enhance clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.

“By uniting care across our community, we are building a stronger local ecosystem for health care,” said Matthew A. Zuino, MSIS, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “We are making it easier for patients to access their health information in one place, helping them get the right care at the right time.”

Baptist Health is consistently recognized for its expertise in leveraging technology to enhance care, access and patient outcomes. The health system recently earned Epic Honor Roll - Summa Cum Laude and Gold Stars awards, demonstrating best-in-class use of the EHR platform by Baptist Health’s physicians and nurses. The health system has also received several prestigious recognitions from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), including the Level 10 designation in the acute and ambulatory categories in its “Digital Health Most Wired” survey for three consecutive years.

For more information on Baptist Health Community Connect, visit: www.baptistjax.com/about-us/community-connect.