HIMSS Analytics Honors Deaconess Health System with Stage 7 Award

In just over two years, Deaconess made the journey from a paper-based record to a paperless system culminating with its Stage 7 recognition.  Being a very ‘data-driven’ organization, in addition to getting the systems in place, Deaconess has been able to make marked improvements in quality outcomes by using the data from the EHR to change processes and monitor results.

The HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 Award honors hospitals that operate in a paperless environment and represent best practices in implementation of the EMR 


HIMSS Analytics
announces that Deaconess Health System received its Stage 7 Award. The award represents attainment of the highest level on the EMR Adoption Model (EMRAM), which is used to track EMR progress at hospitals and health systems. The hospital will be recognized at the 2012 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition on Feb. 21-24, 2012, in Las Vegas. And as of November, 2011, Deaconess Health System is one of 65, or 1.1 percent, of the more than 5,000 U.S. hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics Database, recognized by HIMSS Analytics with its Stage 7 Award.
“Having our organization recognized as a HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 recipient, and in the company of so many prestigious organizations around the country, is definitely something that we are proud of.  While it is a great achievement, it is not the finish line for us.  Our focus from day-one, when we launched our EHR initiative, was centered on the quality care for the patients we serve,” said Todd F. Richardson, Chief Information Officer at Deaconess Health System. “While these types of recognition give us a sense that we are making great strides, they are not our focus.  First and foremost, it is a tribute to our fantastic caregivers who use the tools that we provide them on a daily basis in the care of our patients.  Without them, it would be just another tool.”
HIMSS Analytics developed the EMR Adoption Model in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics™ Database. 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 patient record environment. The validation process that confirms a hospital has reached Stage 7 includes a site visit conducted by an executive from HIMSS Analytics and former or current chief information officers to ensure an unbiased evaluation of the Stage 7 environments.
Deaconess Health System is located in Evansville, Ind. and serves a population of approximately 850,000 residents in a 25-county region of the Tri-State area of Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.  Deaconess covers four hospitals and 19 ambulatory clinics with over 100 employed physicians as well as over a dozen ‘Affiliate Physicians’ in independent practices.  In just over two years, Deaconess made the journey from a paper-based record to a paperless system culminating with its Stage 7 recognition.  Being a very ‘data-driven’ organization, in addition to getting the systems in place, Deaconess has been able to make marked improvements in quality outcomes by using the data from the EHR to change processes and monitor results.
“Earning the HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 award marks outstanding achievement, and congratulations to Deaconess Health System for receiving this honor. The Deaconess system’s strategic governance approach and use of data to create a data-driven culture exemplify the benefits health IT offers to improve the delivery of patient care,” said John P. Hoyt, FACHE, FHIMSS, Executive Vice President, HIMSS Analytics.
Visit the HIMSS Analytics Web site for more information on the Stage 7 award. Find out more about HIMSS12 on the conference website.
About Deaconess Health System
Deaconess Health System is a premiere provider of health care services in southwestern Indiana, western Kentucky and southeastern Illinois. The system includes six hospitals, located in southern Indiana: Deaconess Hospital, an acute care facility; The Women’s Hospital, serving the needs of women and infants; Deaconess Gateway Hospital, an acute care facility; Deaconess Cross Pointe, a behavioral health hospital; The Heart Hospital at Deaconess Gateway, focusing solely on providing leading-edge inpatient and outpatient heart care services; and HealthSouth Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital, specializing in comprehensive medical rehabilitation. Also included in the system are a freestanding cancer center, a health system and physician owned managed care network of preferred hospitals and doctors, two ambulatory surgery centers, 19 ambulatory care sites, two urgent care facilities and multiple partnerships with other health care providers.
About HIMSS Analytics
HIMSS Analytics is a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. The company collects and analyzes healthcare data related to IT processes and environments, products, IS department composition and costs, IS department management metrics, healthcare trends and purchase-related decisions. HIMSS Analytics delivers high quality data and analytical expertise to healthcare delivery organizations, healthcare IT companies, state governments, financial companies, pharmaceutical companies, and consulting firms.  Visit www.himssanalytics.org/ for more information

   

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