SLUCare Launches SLUCare Central
07/13/2018
SLUCare has announced that its first staff members will become part of SLUCare Central, a new initiative that makes it easier for patients to receive medical care at a SLUCare practice site.
SLUCare Central is a new standardized and centrally supported office, designed to improve the experience of patients and enhance efficient collaboration within the practice.
More than a call center, SLUCare Central is SLUCare’s new front door – a singular point of contact for patients. By dialing SLUCare Central, patients will be able to quickly:
- Schedule an appointment with a clinician
- Obtain a referral
- Receive authorization to see a specialist or have a procedure, which is required for insurance reimbursement
“As we remove barriers that prevent patients from seeing a SLUCare provider, our productivity will increase. It is critical to make it as easy as possible for patients to be seen at the right time by the right SLUCare provider,” said Robert Wilmott, M.D., vice dean for medical affairs at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
“In growing our practice, the educational opportunities for students, residents, and fellows will increase; and we will have a greater population upon which to draw for clinical research.”
SLUCare Central will be located at 1831 Chestnut, a downtown building three miles from campus across from Union Station. The sixth floor of the secure building is being renovated for SLUCare and its first employees are scheduled to move in September.
SLUCare staff will be notified by Aug. 2 if they have been selected to move to SLUCare Central, based on their specific skills in patient scheduling, master scheduling, referrals and prior authorizations.
The transition to SLUCare Central will occur gradually in waves as small groups of departments and divisions join every five weeks. The staggered schedule allows those new to SLUCare Central to be trained and mentored by those who already are part of SLUCare Central and to become familiar with the unique needs of various departments.