Moses Lake Clinic gets new computer system

MOSES LAKE - A new computer program will help reduce paperwork for patients and doctors at the Moses Lake Clinic.

Beginning in November, the Moses Lake Clinic becomes one of eight Washington clinics to offer more services online as part of a new computer system integration.

The $30 million dollar Epic computer system aims to eliminate paper and simplify services for patients.

"The future of health care delivery is going to focus on keeping people healthy and managing health," says David Olson, administrator at Moses Lake Clinic. "Because of this, government is saying that we're going to need to be able to manage health though an electronic system."

The rollover to the new Epic computer system at Moses Lake Clinic begins with simplifying billing statements and setting appointments.

Patients will be able to access their account from the Internet and make payments online.

Down the road, users will be able to use an online patient portal called "My Chart," which will allow people to view their lab tests, radiologists reports and more from their computer.

On Feb. 23, the clinic will start using the medical portion of the Epic system.

"The great thing about Epic is we can have specific reports," says Olson. "We can get a list of patients who are women over 50 who have not had a mammogram, or a list of male patients with diabetes who need their eyes checked. That's where managing health comes into play, we can't keep track of 70,000 medical charts and know exactly what people need."

As the deadline to begin using the system draws near, more staff are going though training. Over the past four months, receptionists and business staff have all taken classes on how to use the new system.

"Patients won't be asked the same question over and over," Olson says.

Despite the $30 million price tag, Olson said the system had to be purchased.

"Patient care needs to take priority and we want to be on the cutting edge," Olson said.

Olson says the clinic has been testing the new billing system for over a month to avoid encountering any problems when the system goes into full use next Monday.

"We plan to be prepared," Olson says. "If you do the hard work, practice and try to get the bugs out, the upside is maximized and the downside is minimized."

The Moses Lake Clinic began in 1979 and moved to its current location in the 1980s. During the early years, the basement was reserved for x-ray film and thousands of medical charts. Today, because the electronic filing systems has replaced old charts and digital radiology has made x-ray film obsolete, the space is filled with 30 doctors offices and more than 20 "mid-levels" such as nurse practitioners and midwives.