Unique outsourcing model expected to help community hospitals leverage advanced functionality despite funding and human resource limitations associated with small providers
MURFREESBORO, Tenn., Dec. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Quammen Health Care Consultants is helping Faith Regional Health Services turn information technology's promise into reality through a five-year outsourcing agreement. Under the managed IT services deal, Quammen will govern all aspects of information technology, from strategic vision to vendor relations to day-to-day operations.
"Here at Faith – and at all hospitals across the country as a matter of fact – information technology has become the key to providing the high quality of care and service that patients deserve. But we don't just want to think about the possibilities, we want to make things happen quickly. Quammen provides us with the in-depth knowledge and resources that we need to make the most of the opportunities inherent in technology," said Jim Sinek, CEO of Faith Regional Health Services.
With Quammen Health Care Consultants (QHCC) at the helm, the 227-bed Norfolk, Neb.-based regional referral center expects to stay well out in front of the information technology curve. QHCC already has helped Faith quickly implement a comprehensive and robust electronic health records system. Through this system, Faith has experienced 100% computerized provider order entry (CPOE) adoption, one of the achievements that enabled the hospital to successfully attest to Stage 1 "meaningful use" and to qualify for its share of the government's $27 billion in incentive funds.
"For the past year, we have been working in a consulting role for Faith – and have taken a non-conventional approach to lead the hospital toward EHR success," said Becky Quammen, CEO of QHCC. "This outsourcing agreement broadens our involvement, making it possible for us to not only develop and implement an EHR for Faith but to truly partner with Faith to tap into the potential of a wide range of technologies. With our resources, we are confident that we can lead Faith down the right path, making the most of information technology and improving overall hospital performance along the way."
Under the innovative outsourcing model, QHCC will leverage its specialized experience and knowledge to cost effectively:
- Manage day-to-day IT operations while meeting long-range goals such as the realization of "meaningful use" under ARRA
- Fully staff IT departments capable of supporting a wide array of clinical and financial applications
- Provide help-desk services to front-line technology users
- Recruit, hire and train high-performing IT staff
- Provide just-in-time specialized skill sets to community hospitals that would otherwise need to permanently staff FTEs or purchase expensive consulting resources to meet requirements to implement certified EHRs
- Benefit from "shared" knowledge across like hospitals that are engaged in similar projects, making it possible to quickly adopt best practices and to successfully complete complex EHR implementations
"The applications and technology are there for smaller community hospitals to take advantage of. These hospitals, however, sometimes run into a brick wall when they realize that they don't have and can't afford to add FTEs to gain the specialized expertise to get the job done. It's like building a house. You might get the majority of the work completed with traditional skill sets but then realize that you need the specialized skills of a trim carpenter to finish the job. We provide the specialized IT skills and knowledge that hospitals need to get over those final hurdles," Quammen says.
About Quammen Health Care Consultants
A full-service healthcare information system and business consultancy, Quammen Health Care Consultants (QHCC) offers planning, assessment and implementation services that support a wide range of health system initiatives. Healthcare providers of all sizes rely on QHCC for high-level analysis, vendor selection, deployment and support of any healthcare system available today. From strategic advisory services to hands-on implementation, QHCC helps health systems make the right choices, improve operations and achieve clinical and business objectives. For more information, visit www.quammengroup.com or call 407-539-2015.
SOURCE Quammen Health Care Consultants