(St. Louis) – Mayor Francis G. Slay joined today with officials of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, Tenet Saint Louis, and Forest Park Hospital to mark the opening of TenetCare, a new outpatient facility designed to totally redefine the outpatient and diagnostic testing experience.

TenetCare features outpatient, or same-day, services including mammography, CT, ultrasound and laboratory services.  At TenetCare, guests and referring physicians experience an environment completely focused on customer service and designed to provide a faster, more efficient and comfortable experience.

“A tremendous amount of research and planning was expended in the development of the TenetCare model to provide care to our outpatients in the most comfortable and convenient setting possible,” notes John Sanders, chief executive officer of Forest Park Hospital.  “At Forest Park Hospital, every aspect of outpatient care has been examined and analyzed in the design of our TenetCare space and services to satisfy the needs of our customers and make their visits faster, more pleasant and hassle free.”

Attention to the details of comfort and convenience define TenetCare, right down to the terry cloth robes and slippers and private men’s and women’s lounges.  Other amenities include a children’s play area, a technology center with Internet access, a learning center with medical information, gourmet coffee and pastries, in-room audio centers and a personal pager that alerts guests when their service specialist is ready for them.

Unlike the typical hospital or outpatient environment, TenetCare has an inviting interior that’s warm, calming and comfortable.  The carefully planned execution of textures, lighting, colors and even sound combine to offer guests a non-clinical and relaxing environment.  Beautifully crafted interior finishes of light-colored woods and comfortable seating help set the mood for relaxed care.

For referring physicians, TenetCare promotes advanced diagnostic capabilities, improved office workflow, faster response time and greater patient satisfaction and loyalty.  One-call scheduling helps physician office staff save time and is available round the clock, 24/7.  New equipment like a CT scanner, mammography and ultrasound help ensure accurate test results.  “By eliminating many of the nuisances patients and physician office staff typically encounter in arranging diagnostic services, TenetCare promotes a more satisfying experience,” said Jeff Dossett, director of TenetCare at Forest Park Hospital.

The TenetCare experience starts before a guest arrives, usually beginning when a physician orders testing for a patient.  Physician offices can schedule that testing with one call to TenetCare and provide their patients with a reminder card, directions and special instructions and information to help patients understand the care they will be receiving.  Patients can take care of some of the paperwork, like registration, and make payment arrangements prior to a scheduled visit.

Tenet officials believe that the focus on convenience and service excellence is a smart business move.  With the aging of the baby boomer generation, a new unprecedented kind of demand for heath care now exists.

“Today’s health care consumers expect a much higher level of service.  They are more demanding, better educated and less tolerant of inefficiency.  They value the quality of health care and the setting in which that care is delivered,” said Phillip S. Schaengold, Tenet vice president, operations and chief executive officer of Tenet Saint Louis.  “TenetCare is designed to provide outpatients with excellent diagnostic treatment and a level of personal attention unparalleled in health care.”

During the 20^th century, the number of Americans who are 65+ has increased eleven fold, from 3 million to 33 million.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2035 almost 70 million people, of whom 60 million will be boomers, will be age 65 and older.

 “By being on the front side of this trend, TenetCare may become the model for friendly, efficient and customer-centric health care,” added Sanders.

The range of services available at TenetCare is: CT, mammography, ultrasound, x-ray, bone densitometry, and laboratory services.

TenetCare is wholly owned by Forest Park Hospital located at 6150 Oakland Avenue, near Highway 40/64 and Hampton Avenue across from Forest Park.  Additional information is available by phone at (314) 768-3000.