Residents and Fellows:
Following MedStar Health’s decision to utilize the AmIOn platform system-wide to centralize call schedules, I received feedback from some of you, and our broader GME community, regarding the requirement that all physicians provide cell phone numbers in this system. While part of the purpose of AmIOn is to provide contact information for individuals taking call to ensure redundancy and continuity in patient care, I heard your concerns, take them seriously, and worked immediately with the GME Executive Team and our MedStar Health GME Committee to determine the best path forward.
As a result of your feedback and guidance provided by the GME Committee, we have decided to proceed with a three-month pilot program to better evaluate the unique needs of residents/fellows. Residents/fellows will not be required to enter their cell phone number at this time but are strongly encouraged to do so. As clinicians, you rely on data, and so do we. The GME Executive Team will analyze the data and learning provided by this pilot to determine next steps.
The details of the pilot include:
- For the three-month period October 1 to December 31, GME residents and fellows will engage in a pilot program to collect data and feedback.
- During the pilot, all resident/fellow call schedules, and standard call contact information (pager, etc.) will be entered into AmIOn; however, entering cell phone numbers for residents/fellows will be optional.
- Please inform your PD and/or Program Coordinator (PC) if you will opt in to the pilot and share your cell phone number in AmIOn by October 8.
- Programs currently using resident/fellow cell phones for call will continue to do so, unchanged, and enter the cell phone numbers accordingly into AmIOn.
- At the end of the pilot, we will assess data on use, misuse, program participation, and all other relevant information. Using this data, we will propose next steps. Throughout the pilot, please report any concerns or feedback by submitting the anonymous Google feedback form.
- Please refer to additional FAQs below in this email.
It is only through your structured feedback that we will be able to accurately understand the impact of the proposed transition to AmIOn. For the pilot to be successful, we need residents/fellows from every program and at every PGY level to opt in. Chief residents and other class leaders are strongly encouraged to participate. We will only be able to receive information from those who opt-in to the pilot, and your input is important to me.
There is no predetermined outcome to this pilot, and I define success as learning more about the concerns you’ve raised about AmIOn and broader system access to personal cell phone numbers, and determining if there are other potential impacts. I appreciate your engagement on this issue and the opportunity to listen, learn, and grow together.
Sincerely,
Dean Padmore
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the AmIOn Pilot Program
How do I opt in or opt out to the pilot?
Please inform your Program Director (PD) and/or Program Coordinator (PC) if you will opt in to the pilot by October 8. Your PD and/or PC will upload that information to AmIOn. If you choose not to participate in the pilot, no action is necessary.
Why should I opt in?
Your feedback matters! We can only act on the information that we have available to us, and your feedback will help us accurately understand the impact of the proposed transition to AmIOn. For example, if an entire residency/fellowship program decides to not opt in, then we will not have data from that department to utilize in determining next steps.
What if I opt in now, but want to opt out in the future?
If at any time during the pilot you want to opt out, you may do so immediately. Please contact your PD and/or PC.
Where can I learn more about AmIOn?
We will be hosting meetings with Dr. Brendan Furlong, Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer for MMG, to share more about AmIOn and the pilot. Initially, these meetings will be for your program directors and coordinators. Dr. Furlong and his team are happy to answer any questions you may have.
How can I provide feedback on my experience with AmIOn?
Please report any concerns or feedback by submitting the anonymous Google feedback form. We will also be touching base with pilot participants on a regular basis. If at any time you have an urgent concern that requires immediate attention, please contact your PD and/or PC, or e-mail the GME Executive Team at Academics@MedStar.net. And you know you can always reach me directly on my cell phone at 202-288-8665.
Why is MedStar Health using AmIOn?
MedStar Health has decided to utilize the AmIOn platform system-wide to centralize call schedules for all providers who are on call. Part of the decision to move to AmIOn is to provide contact information for individuals taking call, including cell phone numbers, for redundancy and continuity in patient care. This will allow care teams to reach the physician on call even in the event there are single or multiple system failures, such as the ransom malware attacks that have recently affected several large health care systems.
Are attending physicians required to list their cell phone numbers in AmIOn?
Yes. All MedStar Health providers are required to list their cell phone numbers in AmIOn. At this time, residents/fellows are being granted optional enrollment so that we may complete a pilot and better understand how this will impact you individually and our GME programs.
Will patients have access to my phone number?
No. AmIOn is a third-party system hosted outside of MedStar Health and requires stringent security protocols. AmIOn is limited to MedStar Health associate/physician access and requires two-factor authentication to access. AmIOn is not accessible to patients or the public.
