Hoag Officials Talk Future of Healthcare

Patients portals, mobile phone and tablet apps rolling out this year are a few of the ways Hoag Hospital is working to put healthcare back at the fingertips of its patients. Robert Braithwaite, the hospital's president and chief executive, said the "tools" are being put in place to help people get healthy.

"The technology is being deployed to help improve the healthcare experience," Braithwaite said. "The tools will make healthcare better, more accessible, more convenient and more affordable."

The new tech savvy tools allow patients to manage their healthcare in various ways including scheduling appointments via mobile phones, retrieve lab and imaging results, get information to research causes, symptoms and treatment of diseases and conditions and access to research what is entailed in upcoming procedures patients may have scheduled.

Braithwaite also said new technology in Hoag operating rooms is making it possible for some surgeries to be done in a minimally invasive way.

"Because of technology surgeons can use a catheter to move into the heart and replace a heart valve without having to open up your chest," Braithwaite said.

In June Hoag Hospital, which affiliated with the Catholic-based St. Joseph Health System earlier this year, was the subject of a protest following its decision to ban elective abortions. At the WAKE UP! Newport meeting Thursday which also featured a speech from Richard Afable, CEO of the Covenant Health Network-- which now encompasses the two medical powerhouses-- the new abortion policy was not mentioned.

A handful of protesters handed out fliers at the meeting and asked attendees to contact California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris who launched an investigation into the partnership between Hoag and St. Joseph.

During a short question and answer session, one person asked if the new partnership between Hoag and St. Joseph would impact a patient's end-of-life requests.

"Honoring the requests and wishes at the end of a patient's life is respected by both faith-based organizations," Afable said.

Click here for today's top stories on Newport Beach-Corona Del Mar Patch.

Stay Patched in! Like Newport Beach Patch on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Sign up for the daily email with links to the latest local news.