Patients at Lyster Army Health Clinic can communicate with their provider 24/7 without having to make an appointment or come into the clinic.
In conjunction with RelayHealth, a connectivity and health information technology company, patients can log onto a secure, HIPAA approved site and set up appointments with their provider, request renewals for prescriptions, get lab results and ask questions regarding routine care.
Currently, about 2,700 patients are signed up through secure messaging. All patients seen at Lyster are able to sign up for this service.
Secure messaging has grown in popularity due to its convenience and fast response time from providers. Providers, who call patients back after receiving a voicemail, often end up playing phone tag. Secure messaging eliminates the wait time to hear back from your provider.
"I like it because I can ask simple questions, have a prescription refilled or renew a referral without having to call in, leave a message, and wait for someone to call me back," said Cindy OBrion, a spouse seen at Lyster.
Another convenience OBrion enjoys is the ability to send messages when she needs to and not have to worry about waiting for the clinic to open to call.
"Patients who work all day may not have the ability to call in to leave a message with their provider," said Mandy Tucker, patient-centered medical home director. "Now, patients can send a quick message through the internet and get a response back quickly."
A patient's anxiety of missing a phone call from their provider is calmed when they know an e-mail response is waiting for them to check at their convenience, she said.
Secure Messaging is not a substitute for urgent care, but is encouraged for use in routine care only.
"Lyster's goal is to respond to patients within 24 hours," Tucker said.
Registering for Secure Messaging is as easy as asking the front desk check-in clerk at your next appointment or visits the RelayHealth website (https://app.relayhealth.com/Registration.aspx).
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