Puerto Rico provider becomes first in Caribbean to implement electronic health records
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In a move to improve patient care and financial performance, the largest hospital in the Caribbean has successfully implemented McKesson’s Paragon®hospital information system (HIS). With this deployment, Puerto Rico-based Hospital Auxilio Mutuo has become one of the first Caribbean hospitals to implement electronic health records (EHRs) for its patients and provide its caregivers with clinical IT tools.
The hospital has a history of innovation in specialties, including cardiology, organ transplantation and oncology. However, the 581-bed hospital in San Juan relied on manual, paper-based patient care documentation throughout its 127-year history. Auxilio Mutuo expects the new technology to facilitate reimbursement and ensure that clinical information is consistent and available in a format that can be easily shared across the care team.
Hospital Auxilio Mutuo sought an affordable HIS that would help its medical staff enhance communications and patient care, comply with federal regulations and streamline reimbursement. The new HIS includes a range of multidisciplinary clinical and financial information applications, giving caregivers instant access to patient data and driving efficiencies throughout the revenue cycle.
“With Paragon, we have a comprehensive solution to help us achieve our clinical and financial goals,” said Jorge L. Matta Serrano, hospital administrator, Auxilio Mutuo. “Paragon gives our health professionals the transformational electronic tools they need to improve quality of care—as well as financial performance—across all of our hospital and ambulatory settings.”
Auxilio Mutuo’s implementation began with financial and point-of-care clinical applications, enabling nurses and physicians to increase efficiency and improve care through immediate access to accurate patient information. Initial applications included order management, laboratory, pharmacy and WebStation for Physicians, among others.
Revenue cycle management solutions are helping to streamline patient registration and billing processes. The software was one of several factors that helped decrease Auxilio’s total outstanding A/R by 7.8% and A/R days by 7.5% during the months of September and October of this year. The hospital is adding applications to improve documentation processes and other clinical services, including computerized physician order entry (CPOE), emergency department management and medication administration.
By deploying the patient care systems on mobile devices, the hospital will add portability to the patient care process and help reduce clinical errors. Auxilio Mutuo is one of the first hospitals in the Caribbean to offer wireless access to patients and guests.
“We have replaced century-old processes with the most advanced and innovative patient management technology available,” added Serrano. “In doing so, Hospital Auxilio Mutuo reaffirms our dedication to providing excellent service.”
The hospital has already observed a reduction in revenue cycle inefficiencies as well as improvements in the continuity of patient care and safety, physician access to clinical information and electronic claims management.
“Hospital Auxilio Mutuo is a sophisticated healthcare provider that has taken a leadership role in the region by investing in this technology,” says Jim Pesce, president of the Paragon solution suite at McKesson Provider Technologies. “We are pleased to support the hospital’s efforts to enhance patient care and deliver clinical and operational excellence to its community.”
About Hospital Auxilio Mutuo
Hospital Auxilio Mutuo is a 581-bed acute care medical/surgical facility with 2,000 employees. It has provided award-winning quality care and services, including inpatient and outpatient diagnostics and surgical procedures for the community of Puerto Rico since 1883. For more information, visit http://www.auxiliomutuo.com.
About McKesson
McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 14th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety of patient care. Over the course of its 177-year history, McKesson has grown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients.
CONTACT:
McKesson
Yancey Casey, 404-338-2468
[email protected]
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INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Software Practice Management Health Hospitals
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