PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Earlier this month, Northern Light AR Gould Hospital introduced patient self-scheduling at its primary care and pediatrics practices.
“We know our patients have busy schedules, and we also understand that, due to call volume, it can sometimes take longer than expected to get through by phone to schedule an appointment. We don’t want this to be a barrier to people getting care when they need it. Offering online scheduling is one more way to make it easier for patients to get the care they need,” says Brian Adrian, MD, primary care provider and regional medical informatics officer at AR Gould.
Community members are still encouraged to call a practice to make an appointment if they prefer. AR Gould currently has primary care practices in Presque Isle, Caribou, and Fort Fairfield, and a pediatrics practice with locations in Presque Isle and Caribou.
Currently, primary care and pediatrics self-scheduling options include: new patient, sick/urgent care for established patients, annual wellness/Medicare Wellness, and nurse visits (including blood pressure checks and vaccinations). For other types of appointments, individuals should still call the office.
The new scheduling tool can be found in the MyNorthernLightHealth patient portal or at NorthernLightHealth.org/ARG using the Schedule Now buttons at the bottom of the page.
Self-scheduling is also available for mammograms. This tool went live in June and can be found at NorthernLightHealth.org/ScheduleAMammogram – patients do not need a provider’s order to schedule a screening mammogram.
Online scheduling is one of many online tools joining Northern Light Health’s offerings in 2022. A new, virtual walk-in care service, paperless registration and appointment check-in, patient education, and care management tools came online throughout the summer and fall. The new tools offer patients and community members more ways to access care, stay connected with their providers, and keep their health on track.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve the patient experience and to increase access. We have heard what patients have to say about having more options to get the care they need. While we all like connecting in person or on the phone, we understand that more ways to connect providers and patients doesn’t take away from that – it just means we’re more connected, more frequently,” says Dr. Adrian.
