OhioHealth Infrastructure and Unique Technology at Dublin Earn Award

Dublin Methodist Hospital has been named one of the “MOST WIRED” hospitals in America according to results of the “2008 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study” released today in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. Dublin Methodist Hospital, a member of the OhioHealth system, is the first truly paperless hospital in Ohio and one of the first in the country.

“This recognition validates our efforts to deliver healthcare in a connected and digitized way,” said Michael Krouse, chief information officer at OhioHealth. “With Dublin Methodist, we were fortunate to be able to build a facility from the ground up that has taken full advantage of our technology and connectivity efforts system wide. In a single facility, we have been able to create a vision that leverages network and integration technologies to increase the safety and quality of care we provide.”

“We are very proud to be recognized as a Most Wired Hospital,” said Cheryl Herbert, president of Dublin Methodist. “It shows our strong commitment to embrace the use of integrated technology to improve quality of care, patient satisfaction and the accessibility of critical health information.”

Marking its 10th year, the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, the journal of the American Hospital Association, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues. Nearly 23 percent of U.S. hospitals are represented in the survey.

Some of the technologies in use at Dublin Methodist that helped earn the Most Wired Award are;

•1. Fully Automated, Closed Loop Medication Use Technology - from the physician prescribing the medication - to the pharmacist dispensing the medication - to the nurse administering the medication - to the entire healthcare team monitoring the patient’s response to the medication

•2. Radio Frequency Tracking - using radio frequency “tags” that emit a radio signal, staff can locate equipment such as laptops on a map on their computer. This reduces lost time and expense.

•3. Full Online Electronic Health Record with all health assessments, care plans and orders, care delivered, response to treatment, etc. with access by physicians and other clinicians inside the hospital as well as remotely from office or home

•4. eICU - visual, audio and data connectivity to off site critical care physicians and nurses that provide critical care patients and bedside nurses an extra set of eyes to spot problems early•5. Single Sign-on to applications using fingerprints for positive identification.

•6. Advanced Disaster Management and Recovery System - state-of-the-art plan to keep the hospital running in the event of a disaster affecting the information systems

•7. Real-Time Voice Wireless Communication System (called VOCERA) with integration to cardiac monitoring system, patient call system, bed management system, etc. - this allows the clinicians to get in touch with patients and one another very quickly

•8. Diagnostic Quality Digital Images (e.g., X-rays, CT scans, ) available at all locations and that can be accessed through the Internet anywhere in the world for further evaluation

•9. Web-based Portals for consumers, patients, associates and physicians to access medical information, communicate with each other, schedule appointments, pay bills, etc.

“Health IT has shown incredible promise in helping us improve the quality and safety of the care hospitals deliver every day,” said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association. “The results of the Most Wired survey confirm that today’s patient also understands the benefits of IT in improving care and improving the overall hospital experience.”

“Today’s results add to the growing evidence that the appropriate use of IT can enhance both quality and patient satisfaction,” said Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. “Most Wired hospitals are proving the fundamental value of information technology.”

“What we’re finding,” said Herbert, “is that the technology we’re using not only improves processes, quality, safety and outcomes, but it actually enables our caregivers to spend more time with their patients.”