JUNEAU, Aug. 22, 2012 — The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Ethel Lund Medical Center (ELMC) is introducing a new process called “Call In, Don’t Walk In,” to improve the quality of care for the medical center's Juneau patients. The new process launches on Monday, Sept. 10.

For patients that need to be seen that day, the Medical Center now asks them to call in and set up an appointment with their medical home. They have a new number, 463-6608, that connects directly to their scheduling staff. If the scheduler is on the phone or away from the desk, the patient will be asked to leave a message and the scheduler will return the call within an hour to offer an appointment time.

The scheduling phones will open at 8 a.m., with the last appointment for morning clinic at 11:15 a.m. and the last appointment of the afternoon clinic at 4:15 p.m. If a patient calls late in the afternoon and all the appointment slots have been scheduled, then a nurse will assess the patient over the phone and recommend options for medical care at that time.

“This new process will provide a more steady flow of patients, which will allow use to better serve our patients,” said Dr. Janice Sheufelt, MD, SEARHC Ethel Lund Medical Center Administrator/Medical Director. “Our goals are to allow more opportunity for patients to be seen by their designated provider or medical home, and to shorten the waiting time for patients.”