Spilyay Tymoo, Warm
Wyam Salmon Feast and Powwow
yjt'jJ
Clinic has
By Michele Gemelas
Health and Wellness Center
Quality Assurance
During the month of April,
some of the patients seen by the
Warm Springs Health and
Wellness Center Diabetes pro
gram and Dr. Rudd had their
visits documented using the In
dian Health Services Electronic
Health Record.
The Health and Wellness
Center was chosen as one of
the first four sites in the coun
try to utilize the Electronic
Health Record (HER), and 18
more sites will begin using EHR
during the rest of 2004.
Following are answers to fre
quently asked questions con
cerning EHR:
First, what is it? The EHR is,
similar to the electronic record
used by the Veterans Adminis
tration. The IMS has adapted it
for this community.
Why is MS going to start
. using it? Everyday someone
hears, "We'll call you in as soon
as your chart gets here," or
"We'll give you your medications
as soon as your chart arrives,"
With the EHR, your records
are available at each and every
computer in the Health and
Wellness Center, and many pro
viders can look at it at the same
time. This means that you don't
have to wait for your chart to
be delivered. Also, you won't
have to repeat yourself so
much.
Things that will improve over
time with the EHR include:
completeness of documenta
tion, timely notification of ab
normal tests, increased effi
ciency and better continuity of
care. The EHR is being inte
grated throughout the IHS,
making it possible for providers
across the country to access your
record, if you are present at any
IHS clinic for care.
How does the information in
my old chart get into the com
puterized record? Much of it is
already there. For several years,
our Data Entry Staff have been
working to type your informa
tion into the clinic's computer
system. Things like your diagno
sis, immunizations, medications,
labs, and education provided are
in the system.
Will my blue chart go away?
No. For several years to come,
Drawing for dental program
Health technician Lila
Martinez will be drawing for
all the CHX patients who
have finished the first phase
and are still actively involved
with the program.
The drawing will have one
winner for $500. There w ill
be another drawing in about
five or six months for all
Springs, Oregon
i
-
new record system
we will use your chart to read
the detailed notes that your pro
viders have written. We will still
need to make a new blue chart
for all new patients, including
newborn babies. This chart will
be kept in medical records.
What will happen to my blue
chart? We will keep your blue
chart as long as you are an ac
tive patient. We won't need to
pull it off the shelf each time
your come to the clinic. Instead,
we'll use a computer to view
your medical information. If
you do not come to the Health
and Wellness Center for five
years, your chart will be sent to
the federal archive warehouse
in Seattle.
Where does the information
go' when it's entered in the com
puter? lour information will
never be deleted or go away. We
have an enormous amount of
computer space in which to
store your patient information
(182-gigabyte hard drive, for
those computer types who are
interested). We also "back up"
the information each night, so
your data can be retrieved and
will not be lost.
Will my waiting time de
crease? Using the EHR will
make us more efficient in many
areas, and will decrease overall
waiting time. Certainly, the time
you used to wait for your chart
to arrive will be eliminated. You
still may need to wait to see your
provider, for the lab, for X-rays,
and for your medications, de
pending on die clinic workload
that day. As we become experts
with the EHR, we will document
more quickly and get you on
your way.
Will my prescriptions be
ready faster? The pharmacists
will still need to read the
provider's note on the computer
and check to assure that you are
getting everything you need
safely and appropriately. The
time spent filling your prescrip
tions and counseling will remain
the same. The time spent wait
ing for your chart will be erased.
The pharmacists will verify and
check your prescriptions that are
entered by your provider. This
will also decrease your wait.
Is my information secure
once it gets into the computer?
Your information is more secure
in the computer than anywhere
mothers who have been
cnrolleed since the last draw
ing and have completed the
first phase.
To date, there are about 20
mothers whose names will be
in the drawing, said Martinez.
The winner will be an
nounced by mail or by the
phone.
April
wiUMimnnMl l ii y my mi
? Vy
else. The people who have ac
cess to your medical informa
tion are trained and accountable
to the Privacy Act and the
Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability (HIPAA).
How will my medical infor
mation get to my doctors out
side the Health and Wellness
Center if it's in the computer?
The Medical Records Depart
ment will continue to mail your
information to your specialists
when requested. If you need the
information to be sent to some
one else or you just want a copy,
we will print it for you once you
have completed a Release of
Information form in Medical
Records. In emergencies only, we
will print and fax records to your
physician as needed.
Please be patient with us as
we make die change to using the
Electronic Health Record.
Please call Michele Gemelas at
553-1196 ext. 4420 any time
you have comments or sugges
tions about your care and thanks
for allowing us to serve you,
I' ,' : -I
9 lnil Hi r 1 1 uTii ' iiihliniiiii mM
m
Owns 1 200-acre ranch
Long-term real estate investor
Owns and develops properties
throughout Jefferson County
Hands-on business management
Family woge jobs in
User-friendly county
Fairness and respect
Results-based leadership
Diligently recruit new business and industry
Support existing businesses
Seek value-added agricultural opportunities
Remove barriers and create pathways for growth
29, 2004
wwnwm't. -I
Ptnall Hands
Fact: Children from age two to seventeen start fires
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millions of dollars in property.
Fact: Children under the age of three cause a
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process.
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their children about the dangers of fire and create a
fire-safe home.
Install Smoke Detectors ... Plan an Escape Route
AMERIND offers Home and Fire Safety Training to Children in
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Contact AMERIND'S Loss Prevention Team for more information:
AMERIND: A Consortium of Tribes Protecting
agriculture, tourism and service industries
government
for all county residents regardless of location, race
IF WE WANT GOVERNMENT
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f-.T I
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Local government
urremiy serves on
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of Vem Bowert
Pqge 10
11 r r T
In mid April people of Celilo
hosted the Wyam Salmon
Feast and Powwow. Hamilton
Greeley of Warm Springs
was in attendance, and took
these photographs of the
event.
... Not pre
352 - 3496 ,
Tribes and Their Families
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leader - ooM w a
and economic status
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