How MUSC Overcame Referral Barriers with Reliable Data
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system. With a staff of 31,000 and operating budget of $7.1B, MUSC trains over 950 residents and fellows annually, and educates more than 3,100 students in six colleges. MUSC is a leader in healthcare excellence, consistently recognized as the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report for 10 consecutive years.
Client: Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
Industry: Academic Health System
Location: Charleston, SC
Efficiency Gains
IT Team Able To Focus On Highest Priorities
0 Data Related Complaints
For 2 Years Post Implementation
Improved Access to Care
Patients Referrals Became More Timely & Reliable
The challenge
Broken Referrals, Frustrated Patients
In 2020, MUSC faced a significant challenge managing referrals for patients that required care outside the MUSC Health system. An inaccurate external provider directory used by internal MUSC teams led to numerous issues:
- Unreachable Providers: Patients struggled to contact the right specialists due to incorrect provider details.
- Escalating Complaints: The IT team faced growing concerns from both patients and internal stakeholders.
- Leadership Frustrations: The Chief Medical Officer flagged persistent data accuracy issues.
The IT team bore the brunt of these issues, frequently fielding complaints and struggling to maintain data accuracy without a scalable solution.
The solution
Automating Provider Data Accuracy
Recognizing the urgency, MUSC partnered with Orderly to implement a data corrections solution. Orderly’s product analyzed the external provider data, identifying inaccuracies and ensuring corrections were promptly made. By leveraging Orderly’s expertise, MUSC was able to:
- Seamless Integration: Built an API-based automated data pipeline connecting MUSC to Orderly data.
- Data Validation: Validated and corrected provider contact information without IT team intervention.
- Ongoing Accuracy: Established a scalable system that continuously maintains data accuracy.
The results
Fewer Complaints, Faster Referrals
Within months of deploying Orderly’s solution, MUSC achieved remarkable outcomes:
- Complaints Eliminated: MUSC team received zero patient and stakeholder complaints related to external provider data for two years post implementation.
- Efficiency Gains: IT team experienced a significant reduction in workload, allowing them to focus on higher priority objectives.
- Improved Access to Care: MUSC was able to timely and reliably refer patients to receive the care they needed.
This transformation continues to sustain MUSC with enhanced data quality and the provision of seamless referrals and patient care.
CONCLUSION
Better Data, Better Patient Care
MUSC’s long-standing partnership with Orderly Health directly enhanced their ability to deliver the highest-quality care for their patients. Accurate provider data meant fewer barriers for patients seeking external care. Operationally, internal stakeholder satisfaction improved and the IT team’s focus shifted from reactive problem-solving to strategic initiatives.
As MUSC continues to grow and innovate, its collaboration with Orderly builds on the foundation of scalable, patient-centered solutions. Together, MUSC and Orderly demonstrate how strategic partnerships can resolve complex challenges and improve lives.
Ready to transform your organization’s referral efficiency?
