Stanford Health Care: The Secret Behind Its Rise to National Prominence
Stanford Health Care (SHC), formerly known as Stanford Hospital, is part of the Stanford University Medical Center, along with Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and the Stanford School of Medicine.
Figure: Latest statistical data on Stanford Health Care’s identification number, website, address, ZIP code, institutional type, bed count, outpatient visit volume, and staff size (Source: U.S. association website)
In 2015, Stanford Health Care was ranked among the top hospitals in the United States in the overall hospital rankings published by U.S. News & World Report.Chapter 15. Furthermore, it is one of the seven clinical research pilot sites for the Undiagnosed Diseases Program initiated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What Stories Lie Behind the Numerous Honors?
This article will share insights from several perspectives, including patient portals, primary care, mobile apps, and the use of high-tech devices.
▼MyHealth
Log in to MyHealth anytime, anywhere. Patients can use it to: schedule their next appointment, track consultation status, view lab results, conduct video consultations, access clinical records, pay medical bills, and manage medication prescriptions.
Figure: MyHealth Web Login Interface
In addition to web-based login, Stanford has also launched a mobile version of MyHealth.
In June 2014, Apple Inc. launched a new mobile application platform called HealthKit. Upon its release, many large hospitals in the United States began developing related projects, with some quickly achieving practical results; Stanford Health Care was one of them.
MyHealth directly connects to Epic’s electronic health record system and Apple’s HealthKit platform to collect data from personal health monitoring devices (such as Fitbit wearables), while facilitating data exchange between the Epic EHR system and the Apple platform.
MyHealth provides a secure communication platform that enables patients to communicate directly with healthcare providers. Additionally, MyHealth leverages the HealthKit platform to automatically synchronize with health devices or home care equipment used by patients. Data received from these devices is automatically added to the patient’s personal data charts in Epic, facilitating remote review by physicians.
Stanford believes that MyHealth represents the future trend in the delivery of care for certain chronic diseases.
Figure: iPhone interface of the MyHealth app
▼Primary Care
Whether in terms of coverage or the quality of services provided, Stanford Health Care’s primary care is widely recognized as world-class, with its primary care network spanning the entire East Bay, South Bay, and Peninsula regions of California.
Figure: Users can be matched online with the nearest primary care provider by simply entering their ZIP code.
Figure: Distribution of Stanford Primary Care Sites
The Advantages of Stanford Primary Care:
·Enhance communication between patients and physicians for each individual;
· Establishing a close relationship between patients and physicians, who will carefully evaluate each patient’s specific circumstances and concerns to develop an appropriate treatment plan;
· Connecting patients with top-tier medical experts;
· Should patients have corresponding needs, Stanford’s junior physicians will assist them in quickly connecting with Stanford’s world-renowned
renowned specialists in various medical fields;
· Whole-process collaborative healthcare;
· Full-process follow-up, starting from the initial consultation;
▼ClickWell Care
With ClickWell Care, patients can schedule appointments with Stanford primary care physicians via video or phone, eliminating the need to travel to hospitals or clinics and significantly reducing wait times. Additionally, each patient is assigned a dedicated health coach to guide them in achieving their health goals.
Regardless of any health concerns, patients can consult with physicians via phone or video without leaving home, receiving professional guidance from Stanford primary care providers. This makes accessing physicians and the medical team more convenient and efficient. If needed, Stanford specialists will collaborate to provide comprehensive care. Online consultations extend service hours to weekends, early mornings, and evenings, eliminating long wait times. For laboratory tests and prescriptions, patients can pick up their medications at local pharmacies or request free delivery to their home or office.
The following groups should not use ClickWell Care:
Under 18 years of age;
Non-California Residents;
Patients with severe cardiovascular diseases, such as congestive heart failure, a history of stroke, or other cardiac conditions;
Patients undergoing treatment for complex conditions such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and chronic pain;
Patients Requiring English Translation
ClickWell Care’s health coaches are professionally trained medical professionals or dietitians who help manage patients’ health issues and assist them in accessing additional benefits available to members of the Stanford Medicine Alliance.
Registering for ClickWell Care requires just the following two steps:
Applying for a MyHealth account can be completed either online or during an in-person visit;
Call the phone number; a Stanford coordinator will evaluate whether ClickWell Care is suitable based on the applicant’s individual circumstances.
Note: ClickWell Care is available exclusively to members of the Stanford Health Care Alliance (SHCA). It is intended for patients with chronic conditions or those who do not require frequent in-person physician visits.
▼MyHeart Counts
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among humans in the United States and worldwide. According to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), deaths attributable to heart disease account for approximately one-quarter of all deaths. Against this backdrop, Stanford University has designed and released a mobile application that serves dual purposes: it collects data related to physical activity and risk factors for heart disease to support medical research into the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular conditions, while also helping users gain a better understanding of their own health status and take corresponding steps to improve their cardiac health.
MyHeart Counts is one of the first five apps to utilize the ResearchKit framework (note: a software framework developed by Apple specifically for medical researchers to aid in the diagnosis of various diseases). The app measures users’ physical activity through sensors embedded in the iPhone, Apple Watch, or other wearable devices connected to the Apple Health app.
The developers stated that this app is well-suited for individuals seeking to gain a deeper understanding of their cardiovascular health. Through MyHeart Counts, users can assess their physical activity levels, overall fitness, and heart age.
In the MyHeart Counts research project, Stanford University collaborated with the American Heart Association and the University of Oxford. This research initiative helps the American Heart Association achieve its goal of improving cardiovascular health across the United States by 2020. Furthermore, the Stanford Center on Longevity’s Health, Exercise, and Nutrition Committee is working to enhance public awareness of physical fitness and balanced nutrition, to which the MyHeart Counts research project also makes a positive contribution.
Figure: iPhone interface of the MyHeart Counts mobile app
The main features of MyHeart Counts include:
Records and tracks users' physical activity via iPhone or other devices connected to the Apple Health app;
Assess the user's health status through a six-minute walk test;
Assess the user's risk index for cardiovascular diseases or stroke, and calculate the user's heart age;
Set sleep and exercise reminders;
Assess users' PAR and other health indices;
By entering blood pressure values and cholesterol levels, MyHeart Counts calculates the associated disease risk coefficients for users;
Help users understand their physical health status;
·Help users understand the primary and potential factors threatening their health, and guide them in taking targeted measures to improve their health status.
Eligibility Criteria for Joining Stanford's MyHeart Counts Study:
Aged 18 or above;
Residing in the United States, the United Kingdom, or Hong Kong;
Proficient in English language skills;
▼LVAD
Stanford Medicine's cardiac transplantation technology has consistently remained at the forefront globally.
In 1981, the world’s first heart-lung transplant was performed at Stanford Medicine. Today, Stanford’s LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) program is bringing new hope to patients with end-stage heart failure.
A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a battery-powered mechanical pump that physicians surgically implant into patients with end-stage heart failure. As the left ventricle is the primary chamber responsible for pumping blood, the device assists it in circulating blood to the rest of the body.
There are two scenarios for the use of LVADs:
For patients awaiting heart transplantation, the use of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can be considered as a bridge until a suitable donor heart becomes available. In some cases, LVADs can facilitate myocardial recovery in failing hearts, thereby obviating the need for heart transplantation.
For patients who are not candidates for heart transplantation, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) can facilitate long-term therapy, prolong survival, and improve quality of life.
Unlike in the past, current LVAD devices are portable. This means that after implantation of an LVAD, patients can return home to await a suitable heart transplant match without needing to remain hospitalized, thereby allowing their daily lives to proceed with relatively minimal disruption. However, prior to LVAD implantation, the hospital must conduct several necessary tests to assess whether the device will function properly within the patient’s body without causing any complications.
▼Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy
Stanford surgeons employ cutting-edge technology to perform robot-assisted partial nephrectomy, a complex procedure used to treat kidney cancer. With this robotic system, the operating surgeon can clearly visualize a 3D image of the surgical field, with magnification up to 15 times that of the human eye. Building on this enhanced visualization, the surgeon can manipulate precise instruments to accurately remove cancerous tissue while preserving healthy areas. This minimally invasive approach results in smaller incisions, significantly shortens postoperative recovery time, reduces intraoperative and postoperative pain, and minimizes potential scarring. As a result, patients can return to their daily lives as quickly as possible, even after undergoing such a major surgery.
To ensure the complete removal of cancerous tissue, Stanford physicians employ several other devices in conjunction with this apparatus to collaboratively perform the surgery. The specific steps are as follows:
Step 1: Use intraoperative ultrasound to determine the location of the tumor;
Step 2: Use an ultrasound probe to accurately visualize the tumor;
Step 3: Use a special staining method to mark the cancerous area, ensuring that the excised portion does not include or minimally includes healthy kidney tissue.
Finally, after the resection is complete, the excised tissue is sent to a pathologist for examination to ensure that the tumor has been completely removed. Only then is the surgery considered truly complete.
Stanford Health Care provides specialized diagnosis, treatment, and care across various medical fields, earning widespread acclaim among hospitals nationwide, particularly in oncology, cardiovascular medicine and surgery, organ transplantation, neurology, and neurosurgery. While having an excellent and experienced medical team and resources is undoubtedly important, Stanford Health Care’s current achievements are also attributable to its strong emphasis on scientific research, especially its forward-looking and innovative approach to applying cutting-edge technology and equipment in the medical field. In this new era, success in any domain depends on the adept use of technology.
Text | Lü Xiaoyi
Edited by | Mo Renying