Patients See a Doctor 30 Days Sooner with MyChart Fast Pass

Life doesn’t always stick to a schedule—a patient may need to reschedule an appointment the day of, while another needs to see a doctor right away. It can be a challenge for staff to get in touch with other patients who are waiting in time for them to take a newly open spot that same day, which can leave the spot unfilled. By using Fast Pass in Epic to automatically offer open appointments to patients, Loma Linda University Health in southern California saves staff time and helps patients be seen an average of 30 days sooner.

Patients who have the MyChart app on their phones can choose appointments that work for their schedules, and if a spot opens up sooner, they’re automatically sent a Fast Pass offer for the new time. Loma Linda piloted this scheduling approach with cardiology patients, and they now offer it at most of their outpatient clinics.

In addition to seeing patients sooner, Loma Linda saves an estimated $700,000 annually in unfilled appointment spots.

“We want to partner with patients as they navigate their healthcare,” said Dr. Anthony Hilliard, chief operating officer. “Making it easier to get appointments with MyChart and Fast Pass helps us further reduce barriers and delays to care.”

Loma Linda University Health was awarded HIMSS Stage 7 in 2018 for successes including its schedule improvements. Epic community members can learn more about using Fast Pass on the UserWeb.