GREEN SPRING INTERNAL MEDICINE, LLC
2360 W JOPPA ROAD
SUITE 210
LUTHERVILLE , MD 2109
410-583-2890, FAX 410-583-2891
www.greenspringmed.com
2360 W JOPPA ROAD
410-583-2890, FAX 410-583-2891
www.greenspringmed.com
June 15, 2011
Dear Patient,
Thank you for entrusting us as your internal medicine practice. As such, we are committed to providing you with the highest quality service, access to your health information, and streamlined transitions between healthcare settings. Since the practice was founded in 2006, we have been committed to excellence and have successfully implemented eClinicalWorks electronic medical record and practice management software. We are at the forefront of a major movement in our area. Because we strive to be the best, we are taking our next major step as a practice to improve our model of care and are sending this letter to extend the invitation for you to join us in this endeavor.
We are writing with the great news that Green Spring Internal Medicine was chosen as a pilot site for the Maryland Multi-payer Patient-Centered Medical Home Program! We were selected competitively from among many applicants to participate. Under the direction of the Maryland Healthcare Commission, the Program was recently launched in partnership with other primary care practices, consumer groups, health insurance companies, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Maryland
Being selected as a pilot site allowed us to remain in network with CareFirst and all of its products (at least through December 2014), contrary to a letter some of you recently received from CareFirst or BlueChoice in error.
What is a Patient Centered Medical Home? ”A Patient-Centered Medical Home is a team-based model of care led by a personal physician who provides continuous and coordinated care throughout a patient's lifetime to maximize health outcomes. The PCMH practice is responsible for providing for all of a patient’s health care needs or appropriately arranging care with other qualified professionals. This includes the provision of preventive services, treatment of acute and chronic illness, and assistance with end-of-life issues. It is a model of practice in which a team of health professionals, coordinated by a personal physician, works collaboratively to provide high levels of care, access and communication, care coordination and integration, and care quality and safety. ”
- definition from the American College of Physicians
At a recent staff meeting, we came up with a mission statement for Green Spring Internal Medicine’s Patient-Centered Medical Home: an evidence-based approach to equip, encourage, empower, and engage patients. You can read more about PCMH on my blog at www.drhollydahlman.blogspot.com
What will change and how will I benefit?
Team-based care: We are re-designing our staff and provider team roles in order to better serve your needs, using our software as a tool to assist us. We are blessed to welcome Amy Luebehusen to our team. She is a highly qualified, experienced Nurse Practitioner from Maryland Western Maryland College
Collaboration with you: We are working toward launching Patient Focus Groups, which will meet periodically and allow patients to network with one another to share health resources and work toward common health or disease self-management goals. These groups will center on diabetes, hypertension and weight management. Please let the staff know if you are interested. We will also seek feedback and suggestions from patients by way of surveys and a Patient Advisory Committee. We are also hoping to work more closely with family and caregivers in circumstances such as dementia, realizing their role as part of the medical home. We would like your feedback. One way to give us feedback is to click on the Survey Monkey icon on our website: www.greenspringmed.com.
Communication: Our practice has always valued sharing information with patients. To that end, we have implemented the Patient Portal. Exciting new features have been added: view lab results from Labcorp and other select labs, view portions of your chart and messages from the office, and even schedule your own appointment! It requires only a basic amount of computer knowledge to take advantage of this wonderful feature. We hope you will sign up soon, if you haven’t already. You can now enroll online by going to our practice website: www.greenspringmed.com and clicking on the Patient Portal link. Our practice website also has a link to the eLibrary which has helpful resources including interactive websites. We hope to post more health material and even smartphone health apps on our Patient Portal in the future.
Improved access: Starting in July, we will expand appointment hours as follows: Monday through Thursday from 8 am – 7 pm and on Fridays from 8 am – 5 pm. Phone hours will also expand to 8 am - noon and 1 pm - 4 pm on weekdays. Same-day appointments are available for urgent needs, and we encourage you to call the office to arrange an appointment. Because Green Spring Internal Medicine is your medical home, we highly recommend that you schedule a visit to come to us rather than heading to Patient First, the ER or other urgent care facilities. As always, if you have a true emergency (such as stroke symptoms, chest pain, shortness of breath or heavy bleeding), then please call “911!” We are working with local ER’s and hospitals to ensure that we are notified promptly if you have been seen or admitted. If you do not hear from us after an ER visit or admission, then please call the office at your earliest convenience. Our desire is to make transitions between healthcare settings more seamless.
Pro-active approach to long-term health: Our team will be monitoring your medical needs and may call you to schedule visits or tests that are due and will assist you in arranging consultation with other providers. As well, we will work to ensure that specialists are communicating with our practice and with you in a timely way. Please do not forget to ask other providers whom you consult to fax notes to our office 410-583-2891. This way, we provide a central location for your medical records. Our aim is to improve coordination of information between our office and labs, radiology centers, hospitals, and other facilities and to have important information available at the time of your visit. The Patient Portal allows you to view your medication list, according to our records, as well as the date of your last visit.
Shared responsibility: We will work together with you to create a specific plan of action at each visit. By giving you a copy of your note at the end of every visit, we have been able to communicate clearly, but now we will be asking for your health care goals. We hope to engage you more in the dialogue – listening and coaching rather than “preaching at you”.
Efficiency: You may notice changes in staff roles that allow our office to work more smoothly. As before, please bring a brief list of your concerns and an up-to-date copy of your medication list to your appointment. Please think of refills you may need. In addition, the Patient Portal allows you to answer a set of questions about your recent health in advance of your appointment. You can also update demographic information on the Portal.
Health information and practice updates: Find links to websites on our eLibrary linked on our practice website or additional health information on the Patient Portal. We are also gathering a list of health-related smartphone apps from our patients to share on the Patient Portal. Let us know if you have one. For more real-time updates, follow us on Facebook (Green Spring Internal Medicine) or on Twitter: @GreenSpringMed.
It is our strong desire that every patient in our practice benefit from this Patient-Centered Medical Home. This will allow us to continue to offer the best care possible. We believe this model represents the future of primary care practice in the United States
What do I do next? If you are interested in partnering with us in this endeavor, then all you need to do is continue as a patient at our practice. If you do NOT want to participate in the program, then please cut and paste and then print the opt-out form below and mail it back to us by August 1, 2011. If you choose not to participate, you are still welcome to be our patient and to receive care as you have in the past.
With sincere regards,
Holly Ryerson Dahlman, M.D.
Green Spring Internal Medicine, LLC
OPT-OUT FORM
Dear Dr. Dahlman:
I understand that the Maryland Multi-payer Patient Centered Medical Home Program services would be provided to me at no additional charge; however, I choose not to participate in the Program. By opting out of the Program, I understand that I may be relinquishing the additional services outlined in the letter I received. I also understand that this decision may preclude future participation in the Multi-payer Patient Centered Medical Home Program.
I have made the decision to opt out of the Program in a completely voluntary manner and not under the influence or direction of any other person or entity.
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Patient signature* Printed Patient name
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Date
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Parent/Legal Guardian Signature***
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Printed Parent/LegalGuardian Name***
****Documentation of guardianship required
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Date
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