New Hospital First in Atlanta to Have State-of-the-Art Patient Education, Entertainment System

New technology at Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital helps improve patient safety, empowers patients to be involved in the care process

ATLANTA and KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Imagine waking up after surgery in a spacious, private suite. You realize you’re hungry, so you turn to the interactive display at the foot of your bed to check today’s available meal options. You use that same flat-screen display to take a look at your schedule for the day, and see that you have a physical therapy appointment at 4 p.m. and that your nurse will be by to administer your medications at 5 p.m.

While you’re waiting for your room-service style meal to arrive, you think of a question to ask your doctor. You turn back to the screen and type in your question using the wireless keyboard at your bedside. Your note will display on the screen the next time your doctor comes to your room. You browse through the other options on the screen and decide to review the photos and biographies of the doctors and nurses taking care of you, then you do a quick check of your e-mail.

This patient experience is a reality at The Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital (EUOSH), which celebrates its grand opening Feb. 12. The hospital aims to set the national standard for patient- and family-centered care, and it is using advanced technology to help it accomplish that goal.

Each of the 45 patient rooms, and several family waiting areas at EUOSH, will have a Cerner® CareAware™ myStation™ patient education and entertainment system. The Cerner CareAware myStation system gives patients a way to stay engaged with their care by allowing them to access educational materials related to their condition, view their personal health record (PHR), communicate with their caregivers and manage their schedule. Unlike other interactive patient systems, the Cerner CareAware myStation is connected directly to the hospital’s Cerner Millennium® electronic medical record (EMR). This feature allows doctors to pull up the patient’s chart at the bedside to discuss treatment options and answer questions, involving patients and their loved ones in the care process. The system can help improve patient safety by allowing patients to see the allergy and medication information EUOSH has on file for the patient. If an allergy or medication isn’t noted, the patient can notify their care team to update their EMR. The Cerner CareAware myStation system also gives patients access to the Internet, movies, music and games to keep them and their families entertained during their hospital stay.

“We believe our focus on placing patients and their families at the heart of care will make The Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital unlike any other facility in the region,” said Dr. Scott Boden, The Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Center director. “Cutting-edge technologies like the Cerner CareAware myStation system are a great way to empower our patients to be active participants in their care and maximize patient safety.”

The Cerner CareAware myStation system is displayed on a flat-panel screen mounted at the foot of the patient bed. The system gives patients and their families multiple resources to stay informed about their care, see photos and bios of their doctors and nurses, and stay connected and entertained while they’re awaiting treatment or in recovery. Features of the Cerner CareAware myStation system include:

• myEducation – Provides patients with access to educational materials about their condition or medical procedure.
• Patient Chart – Allows patients to see a list of their current medications and allergies.
• myCare Team – Displays photos and brief bios of the doctors and nurses caring for the patient.
• myNotes – Gives patients a way to ask their care givers questions about their care.
• mySchedule – Allows patients to view their scheduled appointments and to block off time for family visits, conference calls or other personal matters.
• myMenus – Presents patients with meal options for the day.
• myGoals – Shows patients their health-related tasks and goals to accomplish for the day.
• myOpinion – Provides patients and families information about EUOSH and the surrounding area.
• TV, movies and gaming – Enables patients to access movies, television, music and games.
• Internet – Provides patients with full Internet access.
• myHospital – Gives patients and families information about EUOSH, including available services and hours of operation.

“Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital is ahead of the curve in its use of technology to empower patients to become active participants in their care,” said Trace Devanny, Cerner president. “We commend the EUOSH leadership’s vision to seek out technologies like the Cerner CareAware myStation system that enhance communication between patients and caregivers, and to ultimately place the patient at the center of the care process.”

Members of the media are invited to see the Cerner CareAware myStation system and take tours of the new EUOSH facility Feb. 12 starting at 10 a.m. A grand opening and dedication event at noon will follow the tours.

About Cerner
Cerner is taking the paper chart out of healthcare, eliminating error, variance and waste in the care process. With more than 6,000 clients worldwide, Cerner is the leading supplier of healthcare information technology. The following are trademarks of Cerner: Cerner, Cerner’s logo, Cerner Millennium, CareAware and myStation. Nasdaq: CERN. For more information about Cerner, please visit our Web site at www.cerner.com.

About Emory University Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital
The hospital is an extension of Emory University Hospital on Clifton Road. Offering in-patient surgical procedures, the Emory University Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital is the only university-affiliated facility of its kind in the state of Georgia, combining exceptional service with pioneering vision, education, teaching and creativity.