Kimbrough promotes secure messaging system for patients

July 15--In an effort to improve patient care, Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center publicized its secure messaging system for patients in its monthly Lunch and Learn series.

The system, called Relay Health, was promoted to a small gathering of Kimbrough employees and patients in a 30-minute presentation Tuesday at the Rascon Center.

Christopher Logas, director of Patient-Family Centered Care at Kimbrough and facilitator of the facility's Patient Family Advisory Council, led the presentation.

Relay Health is a secure online portal that is compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountabilty Act, or HIPPA, and uses encryption technology and a stringent privacy policy to protect patient information.

Patients at Kimbrough can use Relay Health to communicate with their health care providers, renew prescriptions, schedule appointments, access lab and test results, request a referral, or update their personal health record.

Logas said the presentation was an initiative by PFAC to help increase Relay Health enrollment. The system was introduced at the facility three years ago. Of the 24,000 active-duty service members, their families and retirees currently served at Kimbrough, only 27 percent of the patient population use Relay Health.

As part of the presentation, two YouTube video tutorials about Relay Health and how it can be used were shown for the audience. Logas then answered a few questions.

Retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Harr and his wife, retired Master Sgt. Christine Harr, first used MiCare, the Air Force's secured messaging system, which was introduced in 2012. Relay Health was introduced Armywide in 2011.

"I use it to make appointments and check in with doctors," Christine Harr said. "It's getting easier to use. At first it was really confusing. I'm not a computer-friendly person."

Retired Col. Jean Simmons, president of PFAC, agreed that Relay Health was cumbersome to use when it was first introduced. But, she said, recent efforts to make the system more user-friendly have been successful.

Relay Health can be used by English and Spanish speakers and is accessible on mobile devices such as iPhones and tablets.

Logas said the system makes accessing health care more convenient and less time consuming for patients.

"It's great to have it," Simmons said. "You can get want you want and need from your doctor without coming to the facility."

Editor's note: For more information about Relay Health, contact Christopher Logas at 301-677-8261. To sign up for Relay Health, go to www.RelayHealth.com.

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