Feb. 20, 2011--HIMSS Analytics, a company that collects and analyzes healthcare data related to IT processes and environments, has announced that Sentara Healthcare will be honored as a recipient of its Stage 7 Award. The national recognition represents attainment of the highest level of Electronic Medical Record Adoption ModelSM (EMRAM).
"With Sentara eCare®, we now have an improved ability to capture patient data so that physicians and providers can study patient trends in real time and make resulting changes to the way care is delivered," said David Bernd, Chief Executive Officer, Sentara Healthcare. "This transformation in the way we deliver care is helping Sentara ensure the highest quality and safest patient environment."
With this award, Sentara joins a select group of health systems across the country to have attained this level of electronic medical record implementation. Other recognized systems include Kaiser Permanente, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, University of Pittsburg Medical Center and University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.
HIMSS Analytics developed the EMR Adoption Model in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals. Tracking their progress in completing eight stages (0-7), with Stage 7 representing an advanced electronic patient record environment.
Stage 7 hospitals:
- Deliver patient care without the use of paper charts;
- Are able to share patient information by sending secure standardized summary record transactions to other care providers;
- Use their vast database of clinical information to drive improved care delivery performance, patient safety clinical decision support, and outcomes using business intelligence solutions;
- Are best practice examples of how to implement sophisticated EMR environments that fully engage their clinicians.
"Technology plays an increasingly important role in the delivery and improvement of patient care," adds Bert Reese, Chief Information Officer, Sentara Healthcare. "We have been steadily working to implement a comprehensive electronic medical record system, Sentara eCareÒ, because we know it is the right thing to do for our patients."
Sentara will be recognized at the 2010 HIMSS Annual Conference & Exhibition in March of this year.
Learn more about HIMSS Analytics.