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46 or physician assistants-- nurses and medical assistants as part of the caregiving team. Wellness and chronic disease services were added; behavioral health services were expanded to include geriatric and women's mental health assistance. Cosmetic dermatology, sports medicine, ultrasound, and urgent care have all been modified to improve patient access. Finally, the lab has been centralized underneath one roof so that the majority of all laboratory testing is now processed on-site. This means that the wait time, particularly for STAT (shortest turn around time) orders, is reduced. "South Shore Medical Center is much more than just a new building. The new space allows us to practice the quality of care our patients deserve," notes Tom Carroll, Chief Executive Officer (CEO). By designing space with a team concept as a core principle, close working relationships are fostered; there are now no infrastructural impediments to good communication. Teams of clinicians now share the same space and can easily consult with one another about their cases, ensuring the highest quality of care and the best possible outcomes. Chronic diseases are often resource intensive and the APCs play a critical role on the team to assist in disease management. Diabetes care, for example, can often involve primary care providers, dietitians, diabetes educators, endocrinologists, hospital-based caregivers, wound care providers, home health care associates, and durable medical equipment providers, among others. Under the watchful eye of an APC, patients find a ready and willing advocate who can make staying healthy a little easier by helping patients overcome the complexities of both acute and chronic care. One of the key features that enables the teams to provide such patient-centric care is the use of the Electronic Health Record (EHR). South Shore Medical Center, through its affiliations with Atrius Health, has developed electronic connectivity with nearly all of the major healthcare institutions in Eastern Massachusetts, including South Shore Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Partners HealthCare, Children's Hospital, and Jordan Hospital to name a few. This enables all caregivers at South Shore Medical Center to work together seamlessly with outside hospital providers, so that they are fully informed and aware of the scope and breadth of each other's actions. In real terms, this means more convenience for the patient, as there are fewer impediments to care. For example, testing redundancy is minimized as prior results can be easily shared. Also, greater advocacy can occur because all caregivers can now operate with the same set of information. The EHR is not only useful for clinicians, but it is also an important tool for patients to use for their own self-advocacy. MyHealth Online is the electronic patient portal to the EHR, which is accessed from South Shore Medical Center's website or a patient's mobile device. Patients are encouraged to use MyHealth Online as a way to stay informed about their own health histories and care. When questions arise about past or pending appointments, prior medical tests, or results, patients can go online and look up the information instantly. Having access to this information puts control into the hands of the patient, which is where it belongs. This represents a major shift in thinking, making the patient and the physician collaborators in care. "This is a partnership. Any Pediatric Department time a patient is informed, the possibility for a better outcome is improved," says Tom Carroll, CEO. South Shore Medical Center's long history of innovation has not gone unrecognized. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recently awarded them a Patient-Centered Medical Home Level 3 Recognition. The NCQA is a respected national accrediting agency that has successfully driven health care quality to the top of the national agenda. Its mission is to improve the quality of health care delivery in the United States. To achieve this status, there are several qualifying standards. Creating an environment where patients participate in their own care and control their health histories through the use of an EHR is one of the key requirements. Additionally, using the EHR to improve care quality not only for individual patients but to develop care metrics for groups of patients is another important one. "We will know if certain patients need our help, or if groups of patients require that we do something innovative or different for a better overall outcome. We use our EHR database to identify patients who might benefit from prevention or care. For example, we review our population of men and women over the age of 50 to find those who have not yet had a colonoscopy," commented Dr. Ed Nalband. The NCQA recognition is an affirmation of the investment in a new approach to providing high quality care. None of these advancements could have been accomplished, however, without the unique relationship that South Shore Medical Center has with Atrius Health. Founded in 2004, Atrius Health is a partnership of seven leading care providers in eastern For more than 50 years, our neighbors have made South Shore Medical Center their first choice for quality healthcare. We have cared for multiple generations of South Shore families, treating illness and injury, and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Our experienced physicians and team-based model give our patients access to advanced, comprehensive, and compassionate care - all in one place, and all right around the corner. For the care of your life, please visit our new facility in Norwell, our Kingston office, or the Atrius Health Women's Center in Weymouth. Comprehensive medical care, right in your neighborhood. www.ssmedcenter.com 781-878-5200 32