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Hospitals Recognized For Implementing Patient Safety IT
Wednesday, 04 February 2009 05:07 | 
| Organizations - HIMSS |
Stellaris Health Network announced that its affiliated hospitals have received national recognition for their implementation of information technology
“We are honored and pleased that Stellaris Health Network hospitals have received this important and prestigious designation. By integrating information technology into their daily operations, these hospitals are leading the way in improving the quality of patient care in our region,” said Arthur A. Nizza, President and CEO of Stellaris.
The following are examples from each Stellaris hospital on how they are using information technology in a collaborative effort to ensure patient safety and enhance quality of care. All of the hospitals in Stellaris have deployed the key components of the integrated Meditech solution
including computerized physician order entry, computerized charting, a clinical data repository, clinician decision support, positive patient identification, physician documentation and PACS.
Since White Plains Hospital Center launched its Electronic Orders and Documentation System in April 2006, nearly 90 percent of the Hospital’s affiliated physicians are using the electronic platform to better manage the care of their patients. They have also enhanced their own practices with increased efficiencies by being able to access their patients’ records remotely 24/7 and entering orders and other documentation instead of submitting paper. As one example of increased patient safety, nurses were freed from deciphering illegible orders that are often the culprit for medication mix-ups. Proper support and training — taking only 60 minutes of their time — overcame many physicians’ initial resistance to the technology. Extensive communication, teamwork and mentoring contributed to a successful go-LIVE on May 1, 2008.
Lawrence Hospital’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system is a computerized record that tracks all transactions involving a patient. It provides a clinician with a history of the patient’s visits, whether as an in-patient, out-patient or stop in the Emergency Department. Additionally, it has demographic and insurance information; physician and nursing notes and/or documentation; procedure and surgical notes; consults and discharges; nursing; dietary; social services; case management; respiratory; physical therapy; speech therapy; occupational therapy; all ancillary orders and results; and medications administered to the patient. The EMR also includes specific scanned images and links to Third Party systems so clinicians can see radiology images, or EKG tracings, if necessary. These are available to all physicians and clinicians involved in a patient’s care.
Ensuring patient safety is the focus of Northern Westchester Hospital’s Bedside Medication Verification (BMV) initiative. BMV allows nurses and respiratory therapists to scan barcodes on the patient’s ID bracelet and scan the barcode on the medication to ensure they are the right match. Scanning verifies the correct patient identification. If the medication is not prescribed for the patient, BMV flags the nurse to let him/her know. If the medication dose is too high or too low, BMV alerts the nurse. BMV checks to see that the medication is administered in the proper form and ensures medications are given at the proper time.
Phelps Memorial Hospital Center uses a Picture Archiving & Communication System (PACS), which is a computer system that captures, stores, distributes and displays medical images. Various medical imaging modalities can be handled by PACS, including X-Rays, ultrasound, magnetic resonance (MRI), computed tomography (CT scans), PET, endoscopy, and mammography. PACS eliminates the need to produce and store hard copies of medical images. It also makes it possible for images to be viewed from multiple computer locations by several clinicians simultaneously, allowing for discussion and collaboration among experts. Patient care is improved by the ability of physicians to access current and prior imaging studies instantly.
About Stellaris Health Network
Stellaris Health Network is the region’s leading healthcare system, dedicated to preserving high quality, community-based care for residents of Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Northern Bronx, and Fairfield Counties. Its affiliated hospitals include Lawrence Hospital Center (Bronxville, NY), Northern Westchester Hospital (Mount Kisco, NY) Phelps Memorial Hospital Center (Sleepy Hollow, NY), and White Plains Hospital Center (White Plains, NY). In addition to the network of hospitals, Stellaris provides ambulance and municipal paramedic services to Westchester County, NY through Westchester Emergency Medical Services. With over half a billion dollars in combined revenue and 1,100 in-patient beds, Stellaris Hospitals account for over a third of the acute care bed capacity in Westchester County. Based in Armonk, NY, Stellaris is one of the largest area employers, with approximately 5,000 employees and over 2,100 voluntary physicians on staff. The Stellaris Hospitals provide multidisciplinary acute care services as well as a range of community based services such as hospice, home health, behavioral health and physical rehabilitation.
Source: http://www.westchester.com
Stellaris Health Network, the region’s leading healthcare system, has announced that its affiliated hospitals have received national recognition for their implementation of information technology to improve patient safety and quality of care.
White Plains Hospital Center, Lawrence Hospital Center in Bronxville and Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco achieved Stage 6 designation of the HIMSS Analytics Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Adoption Model. Phelps Memorial Hospital Center in Sleepy Hollow achieved Stage 5 designation. HIMSS Analytics devised the model to track progress at hospitals and health systems toward creating a paperless patient record environment. HIMSS Analytics is a wholly-owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS 2009).
The Stellaris hospitals are 3 of only 30 hospitals nationwide to have achieved Stage 6 designation from HIMSS 2009 Analytics. All four Stellaris hospitals are in the top 1 percent of more than 5,000 hospitals nationwide surveyed by HIMSS Analytics.
White Plains Hospital Center, Lawrence Hospital Center in Bronxville and Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco achieved Stage 6 designation of the HIMSS Analytics Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Adoption Model. Phelps Memorial Hospital Center in Sleepy Hollow achieved Stage 5 designation. HIMSS Analytics devised the model to track progress at hospitals and health systems toward creating a paperless patient record environment. HIMSS Analytics is a wholly-owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS 2009).
The Stellaris hospitals are 3 of only 30 hospitals nationwide to have achieved Stage 6 designation from HIMSS 2009 Analytics. All four Stellaris hospitals are in the top 1 percent of more than 5,000 hospitals nationwide surveyed by HIMSS Analytics.
“We are honored and pleased that Stellaris Health Network hospitals have received this important and prestigious designation. By integrating information technology into their daily operations, these hospitals are leading the way in improving the quality of patient care in our region,” said Arthur A. Nizza, President and CEO of Stellaris.
The following are examples from each Stellaris hospital on how they are using information technology in a collaborative effort to ensure patient safety and enhance quality of care. All of the hospitals in Stellaris have deployed the key components of the integrated Meditech solution
including computerized physician order entry, computerized charting, a clinical data repository, clinician decision support, positive patient identification, physician documentation and PACS.
Since White Plains Hospital Center launched its Electronic Orders and Documentation System in April 2006, nearly 90 percent of the Hospital’s affiliated physicians are using the electronic platform to better manage the care of their patients. They have also enhanced their own practices with increased efficiencies by being able to access their patients’ records remotely 24/7 and entering orders and other documentation instead of submitting paper. As one example of increased patient safety, nurses were freed from deciphering illegible orders that are often the culprit for medication mix-ups. Proper support and training — taking only 60 minutes of their time — overcame many physicians’ initial resistance to the technology. Extensive communication, teamwork and mentoring contributed to a successful go-LIVE on May 1, 2008.
Lawrence Hospital’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system is a computerized record that tracks all transactions involving a patient. It provides a clinician with a history of the patient’s visits, whether as an in-patient, out-patient or stop in the Emergency Department. Additionally, it has demographic and insurance information; physician and nursing notes and/or documentation; procedure and surgical notes; consults and discharges; nursing; dietary; social services; case management; respiratory; physical therapy; speech therapy; occupational therapy; all ancillary orders and results; and medications administered to the patient. The EMR also includes specific scanned images and links to Third Party systems so clinicians can see radiology images, or EKG tracings, if necessary. These are available to all physicians and clinicians involved in a patient’s care.
Ensuring patient safety is the focus of Northern Westchester Hospital’s Bedside Medication Verification (BMV) initiative. BMV allows nurses and respiratory therapists to scan barcodes on the patient’s ID bracelet and scan the barcode on the medication to ensure they are the right match. Scanning verifies the correct patient identification. If the medication is not prescribed for the patient, BMV flags the nurse to let him/her know. If the medication dose is too high or too low, BMV alerts the nurse. BMV checks to see that the medication is administered in the proper form and ensures medications are given at the proper time.
Phelps Memorial Hospital Center uses a Picture Archiving & Communication System (PACS), which is a computer system that captures, stores, distributes and displays medical images. Various medical imaging modalities can be handled by PACS, including X-Rays, ultrasound, magnetic resonance (MRI), computed tomography (CT scans), PET, endoscopy, and mammography. PACS eliminates the need to produce and store hard copies of medical images. It also makes it possible for images to be viewed from multiple computer locations by several clinicians simultaneously, allowing for discussion and collaboration among experts. Patient care is improved by the ability of physicians to access current and prior imaging studies instantly.
About Stellaris Health Network
Stellaris Health Network is the region’s leading healthcare system, dedicated to preserving high quality, community-based care for residents of Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Northern Bronx, and Fairfield Counties. Its affiliated hospitals include Lawrence Hospital Center (Bronxville, NY), Northern Westchester Hospital (Mount Kisco, NY) Phelps Memorial Hospital Center (Sleepy Hollow, NY), and White Plains Hospital Center (White Plains, NY). In addition to the network of hospitals, Stellaris provides ambulance and municipal paramedic services to Westchester County, NY through Westchester Emergency Medical Services. With over half a billion dollars in combined revenue and 1,100 in-patient beds, Stellaris Hospitals account for over a third of the acute care bed capacity in Westchester County. Based in Armonk, NY, Stellaris is one of the largest area employers, with approximately 5,000 employees and over 2,100 voluntary physicians on staff. The Stellaris Hospitals provide multidisciplinary acute care services as well as a range of community based services such as hospice, home health, behavioral health and physical rehabilitation.
Source: http://www.westchester.com
