CHICAGO (September 17, 2012) – HIMSS Analytics recognizes Fort HealthCare in Fort Atkinson, Wis. with its Stage 7 Award. The Stage 7 award represents attainment of the highest level on the Electronic Medical Records Adoption Model (EMRAM), which is used to track EMR progress at hospitals and health systems.
“The HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 award is further evidence affirming the dedication of our medical staff and employees as they’ve worked tirelessly to improve the patient experience using technology available in our electronic medical records system,” said Jim Dahl, chief information officer at Fort HealthCare. “I am proud that we have attained an elite level of automation here in Wisconsin that up to now has only been achieved at a much larger university medical institution. This level of accomplishment will be invaluable as we serve our local community with outstanding care.”
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. There are eight stages (0-7) that measure a hospital’s implementation and utilization of information technology applications. The final stage, Stage 7, represents an advanced patient record environment. The validation process to confirm a hospital has reached Stage 7 includes a site visit by an executive from HIMSS Analytics and former or current chief information officers to ensure an unbiased evaluation of the Stage 7 environments.
In 2010, Fort HealthCare began planning for an organization-wide implementation of a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system. The main goal was to create a medical record system that would provide critical medical data whenever and wherever it’s needed. This access to relevant, integrated clinical information allows medical professionals, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and lab technicians to communicate instantly with the rest of the patient’s care team and enables them to make the best care decisions possible.
More than 50 individual EMR components – a component being a radiology information system, a pharmacy system, a laboratory system, a nurse documentation system – were installed in a “big bang” implementation to provide physicians and other care givers access to the highest level of medical record technology. Enhancements related to chronic disease management, revenue cycle and employee benefits management were also implemented.
The new EHR software system, known internally to Fort HealthCare staff as the Compass project, became available throughout all Fort Memorial Hospital and Fort Medical Group clinic locations on August 1, 2011
Fort HealthCare will be recognized at the 2013 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, La. on March 3-7, 2013. As of Quarter 2, 2012, Fort HealthCare is among the 95 U.S. facilities, or 1.7 percent, of the more than 5,000 U.S. hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics® Database, to be awarded the HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 Award.
“Fort HealthCare has an excellent analytics program that drives performance improvement in core measures and other clinical strategic initiatives,’ said John P. Hoyt, FACHE, FHIMSS, Executive Vice President, HIMSS Analytics. “It is a totally paperless environment, and well positioned for bundled payment reform with a comprehensive e-record for inpatient as well as ambulatory.”
Visit the HIMSS Analytics Web site for more information on the Stage 7 award.
About Fort HealthCare
Fort HealthCare is an integrated hospital and health system that attracts patients throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Fort Memorial Hospital is a modern, fully accredited, acute care facility with 82 acute care and nursery beds. More than 100 physicians are on staff. Fort Medical Group, a subsidiary of Fort HealthCare, currently employs more than 60 physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers. Fort Medical Group clinics offering primary and specialty surgical care are located in Fort Atkinson, Cambridge, Edgerton, Johnson Creek, Jefferson, Lake Mills and Whitewater. Other services offered by Fort HealthCare include occupational medicine, rehabilitation and sports medicine, wound care, urgent care, home health, a preferred provider network for employers known as FortCare and more. Fort HealthCare is a partner in the University of Wisconsin Cancer Center Johnson Creek. Most major health insurance products are accepted. For more information, please go to http://www.forthealthcare.com.
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.
