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Hospital Keeps Patients Connected

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By KLINT LOWRY, The Suncoast News

Published: February 11, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Besides the medical conditions that send people to the hospital in the first place, there are many other things big and small to endure as a patient: bedpans, gowns that never seem to conceal everything in back, no home cooking, boredom and limited TV options.

Nowadays, being electronically disconnected from friends and family is a disquieting experience in itself - especially if it comes at one of the worst possible times.

To overcome that, Morton Plant Mease Health Care recently set up a page on its Web site, www.mpmhealth.com, through which people can send e-mail to inpatients at Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, New Port Richey; Mease Countryside Hospital, Safety Harbor; Mease Dunedin Hospital; Morton Plant Hospital and the Madonna Ptak Morton Plant Rehab Center, both in Clearwater.

"Support of family and friends is so important to our patients and this is another way to bring that caring directly to our patients," said Philip Beauchamp, president and chief executive officer for Morton Plant Mease Health Care.

By going to the home page, navigating to the "E-mail A Patient" page and answering a few questions, loved ones anywhere in the world can send get-well wishes during weekdays.

The electronic messages are received at a central location at each of the facilities, printed and delivered. That means messages can get through even if patients are incapacitated and wouldn't be able to retrieve messages electronically or are unfamiliar with e-mail.

"It's to bring the modern tools and technology to the patients, as connected as we are nowadays," said Beth Hardy, a Morton Plant Mease public relations officer.

This is the latest way in which the hospital system has made modern means of communication available to patients and their loved ones. In 2006, free high-speed Internet access was installed at Morton Plant Mease facilities, allowing patients to use laptops and other wireless devices.

The new e-mail service doesn't allow outgoing messages. The hospitals, however, do offer CarePages. The secure Web pages let patients keep everyone outside the hospital updated on their medical situation. Written updates and photos can be posted on the sites.

"Let's say you're having a baby," Hardy said. With a CarePage, the proud parents can get out a message and photos within minutes to everyone at once.

The CarePages have proven popular. Nearly 2,800 messages were posted on them in 2007.

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