Summary of Experience with EMMI solutions in the Plastic Surgery Practice of Dr. Barry Eppley

Based on my experience with the EMMI solutions program in my plastic surgery practice since last September, my initial four month surveys have been very positive. Programs used on EMMI have included abdominoplasty, breast augmentation, breast reduction, and liposuction. From 8 patients, the following results were obtained.

100% stated EMMI improved their understanding of what to expect. 94% stated EMMI gave them a better understanding of how to take care of themselves before and after the procedure. 100% stated EMMI covered risks that they didn’t know about previously. 88% stated EMMI answered questions thay had planned to call their doctor to discuss. 100% stated EMMI provided them with new information about their procedure. 100% stated EMMI increased their comfort level about their procedure. 100% stated EMMI increased confidence in their doctor.

What surpised me was that most patients felt that the programs covered risks they had not known about before….and…..it answered questions they were going to call about. I was surprised because I had always felt that I was very comprehensive in my discussions with patients and my literature after signing up for a plastic surgery procedure was equally detailed. But what I have come to learn after years in practice was that patients absorb much less information than you think. While they are looking at you and allegedly listening while you are talking to them, what gets through and is understood is but a fraction of what was said. And just because you provide a lot of detailed before and after surgery information, doesn’t necessarily mean that they actually read it. EMMI provides another informational opportunity, that does not involve doctor time or input, to improve patient comprehension.

Dr. Barry Eppley
http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com
http://www.ologyspa.com
Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana
Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana
Indianapolis

Dr. Barry Eppley serves as Medical Advisor in Plastic Surgery for EMMI Solutions

Emmi solutions of Chicago is a company that provides an online patient education program for a wide variety of medical and surgical procedures. Through this program, Emmi helps increase patient satisfaction, helps physicians manage patient expectations, helps patients prepare for and recover from medical procedures, and engages patients in quality and safety initiatives. EMMI programs are currently available in 16 medical specialties includingAnesthesia, Ophthalmology, Oral Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonary, General Surgery and Oncology, Plastic Surgery, Ob/Gyn, ENT, Orthopedic Surgery, Neurology and Spine Surgery, and Urology.

In Plastic Surgery, programs are currently available for saline breast augmentation, silicone breast augmentation, facelift, liposuction, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, and abdominoplasty. Dr. Barry Eppley, plastic surgeon in Indianapolis, will work with other advosry members in updating these programs as well as expanding to include other plastic surgery procedures.

Emmi solutions provides these programs through physician office enrollment. Once a physician is enrolled, his office provides a website and access code for the patient to review the program related to their upcoming procedure. The program documents whether the patient reviewed the program, the length of time and extent that the program was reviewed, and forwards any questions asked to the physician’s office. The program enjoys high patient satisfaction with 96% of patients surveyed saying that EMMI improved their understanding of what to expect before their procedure. Over 90% of patients say they were more comfortable about their upcoming procedure after viewing Emmi. Dr Eppley’s experience over the past year supports these statistics and feels it is a valuable asset to his practice. Emmi helps provide another layer of procedure information beyond what the physician’s office normally does.