Priority Contact™

Priority Contact™ is an application that enhances the work process of a clinician by managing contact with patients after they have left the clinic and new information relevant to their treatment plan has been obtained (e.g. the results of tests). Priority Contact™ was designed by modeling the current clinical processes, identifying a “pain point,” and capturing the “business rules” and information architecture needed to enhance that process. The clinician selects one of four contact strategies: (1) urgent life-threatening communication, (2) serious, life-changing communication, (3) important, treatment altering communication, and (4) required but no impact communication. In addition, patient information and preferences for communication modes are captured from the electronic record. The clinician launches Priority Contact™ and after the appropriate contact strategy has been executed, Priority Contact™ informs the clinician and the communication phase proceeds. Simulation-based analysis of a VA primary care clinic indicates that this can save the clinician more than half the time they currently spend in contacting and communicating with patients.