Distinctive Medical Practices at The Veranda
Monday, May 24th, 2010
When physicians are forward thinking, aware of new developments in their practice area and responsive to their patients’ feedback, it creates a distinctive medical practice like The Veranda. A practice that began in 1952 with Dr. John Inman, Jr., the first board-certified ob-gyn in Albany, is now a leading-edge, multi-specialty medical practice and day spa located in its own facility.
“Our physicians take an integrative approach to our patients’ health and are always looking for ways to deliver the best possible quality of care,” said Nancy Brown, Administrator for The Veranda.
Currently, the medical specialties offered by The Veranda include ob-gyn, children’s medical, family practice and endocrinology. Upstairs from the medical office is Mint Julep, a full-service day spa offering massage, aesthetic skin care, hair and nail services.
A “forward-thinking” practice
While medical policy experts are now promoting the adoption of electronic health records (EHR), The Veranda implemented an EHR system in 2004. The system facilitates quality care and helps the administrative team manage the information for improved patient care.
In 2008, The Veranda launched its online patient portal, PrimePatient Online, as part of its practice website. Patients can go online at their convenience to schedule appointments, pay bills, ask their doctor a question, request a prescription refill or pre-register for an exam. The secure portal enables quick and easy communications between patients and their physicians, reduces waiting times and supports a paperless, streamlined work environment.
“We’re now working with Greenway Medical Technologies, our EHR system vendor, to take advantage of other connectivity capabilities of the system,” Brown explained.
According to Brown, The Veranda is exploring opportunities to provide patients with the option of participating in studies of FDA-approved therapies conducted by pharmaceutical companies. Typically, these studies are conducted at large teaching hospitals. However, in some cases, the patient populations of teaching hospitals may be skewed demographically. Using its EHR system, The Veranda can identify groups of patients that may qualify to participate in a research group. From the patient’s perspective, these types of research studies can offer access to medications that may not otherwise be available.
“Our physicians are always looking for ways to improve quality of care and participating in research groups is one way to help improve medical services,” Brown said.
An “aware” practice
Physicians and administrative staff at The Veranda work to maintain an awareness of medical services that may be needed but are not currently available in the Albany area. For example, OB-GYN Associates at The Veranda announced in April a new association with Reproductive Biology Associates (RBA) of Atlanta, Georgia’s first in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment center. On April 26, RBA held its first monthly infertility educational symposiums and patient consultation at The Veranda, open to all individuals and couples in Southwest Georgia regardless of their current obstetrician of choice.
“It can be very difficult for women to travel to Atlanta for multiple procedures and tests related to IVF treatment. Now patients can have basic work-ups, lab tests and consultations close to home,” Brown said.
The Veranda also recruits new physicians to its practice to ensure it offers the medical services patients need. Dr. Christina Kile opened Endocrinology Associates at The Veranda in August 2009, providing diagnostic and treatment services in areas such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, hypoglycemia, calcium disorders, adrenal disorders and others.
Dr. Paul Payne will be joining OB-GYN Associates at The Veranda in 2010. Currently completing his residency in Florida, Dr. Payne is already trained in robotic surgery procedures, which are increasingly the standard of care for certain gynecological procedures.
A responsive practice
In 2000, when OB-GYN Associates outgrew its location near Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, the physicians turned to their patients to determine not only where to locate but also what types of services to provide.
“We held five focus groups and the feedback we received became part of our strategic plan. Everything we are today came from patient feedback,” Brown said.
According to Brown, patients were not only looking for additional health care specialties such as children’s medical and family practice, they also wanted a reputable place for some “me time.” Out of that feedback came the Mint Julep Day Spa, offering a wide selection of body treatments and skin solutions. Beyond massage and aesthetic treatments, the spa expanded to offer hair and nail services.
“We have a really terrific group of therapists at Mint Julep. They provide excellent service to our clients and also give back to the Albany community. Each month our therapists give hand and neck massages to residents at Morningside Assisted Living,” she explained.
Physicians at The Veranda also volunteer as faculty for the Medical College of Georgia, serving as mentor physicians for third-year medical students interested in ob-gyn. In addition, family practice interns at Mercer College spend time in the ob-gyn practice at The Veranda.
For more information on The Veranda and its distinctive medical practices, visit www.theveranda.org
