9. Why this solution should be
selected - 1
• How and Why ROYL was developed: I am a retired cardiothoracic surgeon
and have served as a Chief of Surgery, Assistant Medial School Dean and
Chief of Quality Management for the US Army. During my career I came to
realize that no one was really talking to patients about the meaning of their
situations. I learned about doing this and is was a positive experience for me
and for my patients. When I retired, I wanted to provide a computer
companion for doctors and their patients to help people have ‘The
Conversation.”
• How and Why ROYL has evolved: I developed ROYL as a web app geared
to doctors and end of life care. In this process, I came to understand that
there were many stakeholders involved in addition to doctors- nurses,
lawyers, financial planners and insurance agents, social service workers,
health and retirement specialists and death industry workers. I also realized
that this is about living and about the Rest of Your Life and that end of life
issues are important but need to be addressed earlier on and as part of Rest
of Your Life planning. ROYL is dedicated to the many patients and families
and loved ones I have worked with the past forty years and for their patience
with me.
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11. Why this solution should be
selected - 3
• ROYL begins with the goal of increasing advanced care planning. This may utilize a
new work force member to be a ROYL Champion in clinical settings. If a patient
chooses to do advanced care planning, they are on the road to fulfilling their goals of
remaining at home and preserving the family financial integrity. The ROYL Champion
will follow up with help for home modifications, for home health monitoring and for
earlier home hospice in appropriate situations.
• ROYL also facilitates patient/family/loved one interactions with doctors, nurses,
lawyers, financial planners and insurance agents, social service workers, health and
aging specialists and death industry workers.
• ROYL helps patients/families/loved ones and health care providers have ‘The
Conversation’
• ROYL also meets some HITECH MU-2 criteria for advanced care planning and helps
care providers meet their goals for HITECH reimbursement
• ROYL also meets some HITECH MU-3 criteria for patient health portals to increase
patient engagement with the EMR/EHR
• ROYL improves the quality of care, increases patient/family/loved ones
satisfaction and reduces the cost of health care.
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