Holy Family Hospital Launches Electronic Medical Record
Posted by Common on Feb 18, 2010 in Business, News • No comments
Holy Family Hospital Launches Electronic Medical Record
Joins Just 2.5% of U.S. Hospitals in Reaching Patient Safety Milestone
February 18, 2010 – Methuen, Mass. – Holy Family Hospital today went live with its Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system. By providing consistent, real-time communication between physicians and patient care staff, the EMR system improves patient care and safety.
Holy Family is the first of the Caritas group of hospitals to implement all three components of the EMR –Patient Care System (PCS), Bedside Medication Verification (BMV), and Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE).
Physicians can place patient orders online for medication, lab radiology tests, consults and more. Patient information is integrated into the record and automatically checked for potential errors or problems such as drug interactions or patient allergies. Physicians can place orders and access patient information such as imaging and lab results from their offices, homes or anywhere in the hospital. Nurses now electronically assess, monitor and chart patient care online. They also utilize an online status board that includes care plans, special orders, and patient discharge information.
“Electronic medical records are the new standard for clinical documentation. Holy Family is proud to be among the few Massachusetts community hospitals that have adopted the technology,” said Lester P. Schindel, President and CEO of Holy Family Hospital. “I want to thank everyone, including physicians, nurses, ancillary, and IS staff who have worked hard to put this system in place that allows us to improve the safety and quality of our care.”
Electronic medical records have been a focal point of the health care reform debate as a tool for improving quality and reducing cost. A study last year by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and New England Healthcare Institute found that for Massachusetts community hospitals, computerized physician order entry alone could reduce harm from errors by 70% and save $2.7 million a year per hospital.
