UTSA Student Health Services implements electronic health records system

Recreation and Wellness Center, UTSA Main Campus

By Jesus Chavez
Marketing Associate

(April 26, 2013) -- UTSA Student Health Services (SHS) will begin the transition from paper health records to a new electronic health record management system effective Monday, April 29. The new system is adapted from the student health platform Point 'n Click. Once the electronic health records system is fully implemented, the ease of appointment scheduling by students is expected to dramatically improve.

"The UTSA Office of Information Technology and Student Health Services have collaborated over two years to adapt the program to the specific needs of the health service and its students," said Beth Wichman, M.D., director of Student Health Services. "The staff has been actively involved in extensive training over the last year in preparation for the go-live date.  It will enhance the delivery of patient care as well as offer extensive patient education resources."

Communication between UTSA SHS staff will be improved, resulting in enhanced prioritization of patients. The system will use a student's UTSA account number, which will enable staff to determine their eligibility for services nearly instantaneously.

Additionally, UTSA SHS staff will no longer use paper charts to review patients' symptoms or medical history, and the electronic system will allow simultaneous access to records by medical staff. This allows a medical provider to review a patient's chart or lab work at the same time that another staff member might be scheduling a follow-up appointment.

In the future, UTSA SHS staff plan to begin the implementation of other Point 'n Click features including its Open Communicator program, which allows students to complete medical forms before an appointment, an online scheduling option for some types of visits and the opportunity to communicate with a medical provider via a secure message system.

During the initial stages of the conversion, patients may experience longer wait times until the transition is complete. For those who require immediate attention, UTSA Student Health Services has provided a list of off-campus urgent care providers and clinics available at its website.

For more information, contact UTSA Student Health Services at 210-458-4142 (Main Campus) or 210-458-2930 (Downtown Campus).