Sept. 8, 2009--The Christ Hospital is improving the reach and functionality of its electronic medical record (EMR) by extending EMR services to The Christ Hospital Medical Associates (TCHMA), the primary care physician group of The Christ Hospital, and the hospital's Physical and Occupational Therapy Centers. This secured EMR system, EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, will allow physicians to eliminate paper records and create virtual patient charts that can immediately be shared with other networked hospital sites.
With the Sept. 1 implementation of EpicCare Ambulatory EMR's practice management software, The Christ Hospital now supports scheduling and registration for its patients within a single system - regardless of the location or service. As the hospital continues implementation of the EMR over the coming months, clinical tests, notes, medications and studies will be shared among all care givers.
"The addition of EpicCare Ambulatory EMR allows The Christ Hospital to offer the most streamlined, complete medical record system available in Greater Cincinnati - from the patient's doctor's office, to the hospital and throughout the continuum of care," said Chester Maze, chief information officer, The Christ Hospital. "Having a patient's medical history, list of prescribed medications and other records immediately accessible to each patient's physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff, will be an invaluable resource for improved healthcare quality and safety."
With the EMR, all physicians and other care givers will have access to detailed information about the patient, including past procedures, identified allergies and potential prescription interactions. The EMR helps eliminate confusion caused by handwritten notes and will streamline scheduling procedures for hospital services. The system also features digital imaging of key documents for billing and privacy to help reduce billing errors, and as a result, increase patient satisfaction.
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Community physicians in private practice will soon be able to purchase EpicCare Ambulatory EMR through The Christ Hospital for a simplified, cost-effective way to bring the benefits of EMRs into their offices. The Electronic Practice and Clinical Management System, or E-PCMS, will also include education and support services for the physicians and their office staffs.
The Christ Hospital has already completed conversion to the Epic EMR and was first in Greater Cincinnati to use the system hospital-wide when it activated the EMR in June 2008. All patient records are entered and stored electronically, including prescription records, medical imaging, telemetry and all physician orders.
The Christ Hospital Medical Associates includes 35 physicians in 13 convenient locations throughout the Tristate. To find a physician who is right for you, call 513-585-1000 and ask for a referral to a physician with The Christ Hospital Medical Associates, or visit www.TheChristHospital.com and click on "Our Primary Care Physicians."
The Christ Hospital is a 555-bed, not-for-profit acute care facility, offering services in cardiovascular care, spine treatment, women's health, major surgery, cancer, behavioral medicine, orthopedics, emergency care, kidney transplant and others. The hospital also offers The Christ Hospital Medical Associates, a primary care physician practice with several office locations throughout the Tristate. The Christ Hospital is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's top hospitals, and has been named Cincinnati's Most Preferred Hospital for 13 consecutive years by National Research Corporation (NRC). For more information about The Christ Hospital, visit www.TheChristHospital.com.
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