– Northwell Health goes live on Microsoft Teams solution for clinicians for secure texting and helps improve care coordination across the enterprise.
– A total of 8,300 Northwell staff currently use Microsoft Teams with future rollouts plan across the health system this year and into early 2020.
Glen Cove Hospital, part of the Northwell Health network has gone live on the Microsoft Teams solution for nurses, physicians, and other health care providers to securely text one other about their patients. The announcement marks Northwell Health as one of the first hospitals in the United States to adopt the platform as Northwell Health rolls out usage systemwide. To date, about 8,300 Northwell staff currently use Microsoft Teams and rollouts will continue across the health system this year and into early 2020.
To avoid any possible misunderstandings, patients receive printed information explaining how their clinicians may use mobile technology to securely text each other to improve communication amongst the care team and enhance patient care. Glen Cove Hospital recently piloted this technology on its telemetry, brain injury unit and coronary care unit and has received positive reviews from the staff. The health system’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park also is using the platform for clinical purposes.
Microsoft Teams Application for Secure Messaging
This application, which is available on mobile and desktop devices, uses the cloud to safely and securely store information. The application is used on Northwell Health-issued secure mobile phones, which require password and encryption protocols and other mobile devices that meet Northwell’s strict security standards.
“The world of health care moves at a fast pace and using a secure texting platform such as Microsoft Teams allows our staff to more quickly and safely convey information about their patients to each other,” said Bissoondaye Ragoonanan, RN, manager of clinical transformation at the hospital. “This software can potentially speed up patient care and ensure that there are fewer unnecessary wait times.”
Care Coordination in One Hub
In addition, Northwell Health is using Microsoft Teams to enhance care coordination with patient updates in real-time through connections to the EHR, line of business apps, and Office apps. The emergency management teams use MS Teams to act quickly on situations needing escalation by creating video meetings with leaders at the click of a button. Teams have been used to create employee workspaces to receive important communications from leaders and to optimize workflow efficiencies by a “one-stop-shop” approach – providing the necessary tools used for daily operations at their fingertips. Clinicians have shared positive feedback, as additional benefits such as secure group texting, sharing attachments through conversations and reduction in email are realized.
Why It Matters
“We are proud to be among the first in the nation to use this technology in a clinical setting,” said John Bosco, chief information officer at Northwell Health. “Glen Cove Hospital was well-suited to launch secure texting, part of the health system’s commitment to implementing new and innovative ways to provide the best patient care possible.”
