For immediate release: June 28, 2007
As part of a concerted plan to continue to improve the level of care that Internal Medicine patients receive at UTMB's Harborside Medical Clinic and adjacent Daniels' Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine Chair Randall J. Urban has appointed Dr. Thomas A. Blackwell as the division director for General Internal Medicine.
Blackwell has supervised all Department of Internal Medicine physicians practicing at the clinics since November, when he was named interim director. He is also a longtime associate dean for graduate medical education at UTMB and program director for the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program. He sees private patients regularly at the Harborside Medical Clinic and works closely with physicians-in-training. His national roles include current membership on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Internal Medicine and service as a past chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Residency Review Committee for Internal Medicine.
"I expect that those who haven't been to our General Medicine clinics recently will be greatly impressed by the positive changes Dr. Blackwell has already made to ensure that patients are seen promptly by our faculty members," Dr. Urban said. "It is our top priority that our patients' medical needs are effectively and efficiently met," he added. "We're committed to excellence in patient care and will not tolerate being second best to anyone."
Blackwell explained: "We're redefining the way the clinic is operated so that every doctor will be teamed with a nurse, which will allow patients to interact with the same medical team on every visit. This allows for improved continuity of care and ultimately a stronger patient/provider relationship." He continued: "When a patient calls in with a problem they should be able to speak with someone whom they know and who's familiar with their medical history." In building the teams, Blackwell said, "We're looking for people with strong interpersonal skills, compassion, strong problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to excellence."
Blackwell said he has hired seven new Internal Medicine physicians, the last of whom will report for work on August 1, 2007, as well as additional nurses and personnel to answer telephone calls and make appointments.
"These individuals will allow us to meet the needs of our private patient demands and ensure prompt scheduling of patient appointments," Blackwell stated. "We're determined to continue to improve our service levels."
Among other innovations being introduced in the UTMB Clinics is a system that will expedite prescription refills. There also will be an enhanced policy requiring that a member of each health care team call patients with results of laboratory tests within three business days, with many of the calls being made the same day the results are available.
In addition, in an effort to make clinic visits a better experience for all patients, a new phlebotomy station (the place where blood is drawn for laboratory tests) has been opened in the Harborside Medical Clinic. If X-rays or MRIs are needed, the radiology facilities are located directly across the hallway from the clinic. "This enables us to perform the majority of routine tests in close proximity to Harborside Medical Clinic," Blackwell said.
Moreover, the clinic is "entirely paperless", Blackwell noted, with all patient records now electronically recorded. This new technology makes it easy for physicians to access and review patients' medical histories, prescriptions, X-rays, and other important medical information. This enhances both physician efficiency and patient safety, he noted.
Dr. David Callender, the incoming UTMB president, is "committed to improving clinical care," Blackwell noted, "and so are we."
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