Abstract

Benefits Realization is a strategy for quality improvement used by the Alberta Health Services Information Technology Department. The approach is currently used within the enterprise-wide, ambulatory care IT initiative "eCLINICIAN." By using Benefits Realization together with the implementation of eCLINICIAN-Scheduling, the University of Alberta, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism eliminated 10 steps in the patient follow-up booking process. In addition, over 2,000 phone calls were saved per year, which translates to at least 170 hours of time that can be allocated to other priority tasks by the Division of Endocrinology staff.