HIMSS Analytics recently announced OCH Regional Medical Center has achieved Stage 6 on the Electronic Medical Record Adoption ModelSM (EMRAM). This Model was developed in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics® LOGIC™. OCH is one of only 23 hospitals in the state and among 29% of all hospitals in the United States to receive Stage 6 recognition.
“We recognize the strategic value of improving patient care by reaching the Stage 6 on the EMR Adoption Model,” said OCH Administrator/CEO Richard Hilton. “OCH has made significant commitments and investments to reach this stage in order to effectively utilize information technology to improve the patient safety environment.”
“OCH Regional Medical Center achieving Stage 6 certification is testament to the commitment the Medical Center has to patient care,” stated Todd Smith, MD, OCH Chief Medical Officer. “These certifications in Electronic Health Record (EHR) shows this hospital is not only keeping current with governmental recommendations, but also exceeding them.”
Reaching Stage 6 demonstrates a near paperless medical records and is well positioned to provide data to key stakeholders, such as payers, the government, physicians, consumers, and employers in order to support electronic health record environments and health information exchanges.
As a Stage 6 hospital, OCH also has achieved a significant advancement in IT capabilities and is that positioned to successfully address many of the current industry transformations, such as meaningful use criteria in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, claims attachments for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, pay for performance, and government quality reporting programs.
OCH ITS Meaningful Use Manager Marcia Thomas, who worked diligently to help OCH achieve Stage 6, said this certification raises the standard of care that the Medical Center provides to its patients.
“Some of the requirements to achieve Stage 6 certification include the ability to view radiology images from within a patient’s chart so that the physician can make faster, more accurate decisions about the patient’s plan of care,” explained Thomas, adding that the hospital’s electronic medical record system must have reminders that encourage specific treatments for patients with certain diagnosis that are proven to improve patient care.
“We have worked very hard, and it has taken the whole Medical Center to make this happen,” said Chamath Wijewardane, CITO/Director of Information Technology Services at OCH Regional Medical Center. “While our department facilitated the integration of these systems and processes to achieve Stage 6, receiving this recognition was a team effort achieved by physicians, clinical and nonclinical staff working together to create an environment conducive to meeting ‘meaningful use’” said Wijewardane, noting that the Medical Center is making strides to meeting Stage 7.
By tracking their progress in completing eight stages (0-7), hospitals can review the implementation and utilization of information technology applications with the intent of reaching Stage 7, which represents an advanced electronic patient record environment.
“HIMSS Analytics congratulates OCH Regional Medical Center for making significant progress towards achieving advanced health IT adoption,” said John H. Daniels, CNM, FACHE, FHIMSS, CPHIMS, Global Vice President, HIMSS Analytics. “Stage 6 represents a level of sophistication that can lead to innovative healthcare transformation.” HIMSS Analytics is a global healthcare advisor, providing guidance and market intelligence solutions that move the industry forward with insight to enable better health through the use of IT. As a trusted healthcare research and advisory firm, the industry depends on HIMSS Analytics’ resources, benchmarks, predictive models and assessment tools to improve decision making regarding their IT strategic roadmap and market strategy.
HIMSS Analytics, a wholly owned subsidiary of HIMSS, is the healthcare research and advisory firm for healthcare delivery organizations, IT companies, governmental entities, and financial, pharmaceutical, consulting and emerging technology solution partners worldwide. Visit himssanalytics.org for more information.
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