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Mission Hospital has been named one of the “Most Wired” and “Most Wireless” hospitals in the United States according to results of the “2008 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study” released in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. Of the 100 health systems named, the Carolinas HealthCare System, Duke University Health System, University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center also made the list. Mission was the only hospital in North Carolina to also be named the Most Wireless.
Marking its 10th year, the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. Participating hospitals report on how they use information technology to address five key areas: safety and quality, customer service, business processes, workforce, and public health and safety. It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues. The 100 Most Wired hospitals show better outcomes in patient satisfaction, risk-adjusted mortality rates and other key quality measures through the use of information technology (IT) according to a new analysis. “Health IT has shown incredible promise in helping us improve the quality and safety of the care hospitals deliver every day,” said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association. “The results of the Most Wired survey confirm that today’s patient also understands the benefits of IT in improving care and improving the overall hospital experience. “Most Wired hospitals excel in many ways but a strong investment in and commitment to information technology are characteristic of leaders who are looking at all of the elements needed to be a high-performing organization,” said Lydon Neumann, senior executive at Accenture LLC, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. “An investment in information technology demonstrates the organizational commitment to patients, caregivers, physicians and clinicians, staff and administration. It indicates a willingness to invest in areas that advance organizational effectiveness.” Mission was selected for this designation after submitting the answers to a comprehensive list of questions posed by the surveyors which included information on how we manage data on diagnoses, treatments, outcomes and safety. From that initial submission, we were asked to clarify and refine our answers, again a lengthy, detailed process. “So much of our data on cancer and infection control has been computerized for awhile, but we have worked very hard over the last few years to improve connectivity between our clinicians and physicians,” said Mission Chief Information Officer Arlo Jennings, PhD. “When you have the wiring infrastructure in place, including a fully functional wireless system within the hospital, the information flows. “Physicians have more timely and accurate access to information, test results, medications, and patient progress, and can respond readily. It improves patient safety to have Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) in place. Physician orders are more readable as opposed to handwritten orders. Test results are received more quickly so decistions can be made and treatment started. Patients and their families appreciate having access to wireless internet available. “In addition, the WNC DataLink project provides ready access to patient information in all 16 WNC hospitals,” explained Jennings. The Health Information Exchange (HIE) connects disparate hospital information systems and allows us to share patient information. This expedites patient care by making information available at the point of care. WNC has one of the most fully functional HIE systems in the nation. Access to our records are available digitally and in real time.” Going forward, Mission plans to improve collections by using the web to enable patients to check their bills and pay online. While it is already possible to make a donation to Mission Healthcare Foundation via the internet, patients will even be able to pre-register and register for wellness classes on line, request newsletters and receive breaking health news targeted specifically to their diagnosis, for example, diabetes. “Going forward with this technology actually puts us right into the homes of our patients,” says Jennings. “It’s a feature that many patients seem to recognize as tremendous value added.” (Images provided by 2008 Southern Living, artist Miles Melton, and EcoBuilders.)
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