WellSpan Health, Cerner and Hospira Make Healthcare History With First Implementation of Infusion Management Technology

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 6, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WellSpan Health is the first to go live with smart pump auto-programming and infusion management technology from Cerner Corporation (Nasdaq:CERN). This one-of-a-kind technology allows clinicians to automatically program infusion pumps with patients' order information and aggregate real-time infusion and medical device data into the electronic health record (EHR). York Hospital's Medical-Surgical ICU is using this technology, powered by the Cerner CareAware®device connectivity architecture, and has seen great benefits, including:

  • Reduced nursing time required for infusion documentation
  • Decreased potential for adverse drug events
  • Reduced IV medication administration programming time
  • Increased compliance with medication orders
  • Decreased time spent on device connectivity trouble shooting
  • Reduced time spent retroactively charting

For a demo of this technology in action at WellSpan Health, watch the video below:

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=208342

Clinicians at WellSpan Health are able to automatically send data from SymbiqTM smart IV pumps utilizing the Hospira MedNetTM Safety software to the Cerner Millennium® EHR without needing a nurse or other staff member to transcribe titration data or volumes infused. The CareAware technology combines the safety features of an auto-programmed infusion pump with software that improves clinical visibility to real-time infusion data. The solution aggregates medical device data into the EHR so that clinicians have a complete picture of the patient's health status in relationship to the medications that are infusing. Clinicians can also view this information in an organized dashboard view that gives a summary of all relevant health information. It also enables caregivers to spend less time manually entering device data into the EHR and spend more time at the patient's bedside providing quality care.

According to KLAS, no other hospital is using technology that automates the infusion management process from beginning to end, including: bar-code scanning of medical devices and patients' wristbands, verifying the five rights of medication administration and auto programming of the orders placed in the EHR.

Jason Hess, GM, Clinical Research, KLAS said, "One of the frequent challenges KLAS hears from providers, specifically in pharmacy and nursing, is around keeping tabs on which patients are being infused, which drips need replenishing and where restocking needs to occur. It's a significant impact on workflow and one where real-time data on infusions by way of a dashboard product, could be a game-changer. To date, KLAS is not aware of any other CIS vendor providing this functionality.  I suspect Cerner will find fertile ground as they go to the market with the unique proof point of their first live customer using this real-time infusion product." 

To see a demo of Cerner's infusion management technology, visit us at booth #141 at the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting on December 5-9 in Anaheim, Calif. 

About Cerner

Cerner is transforming healthcare by eliminating error, variance and waste for healthcare providers and consumers around the world. Cerner® solutions optimize processes for healthcare organizations ranging in size from single-doctor practices, to health systems, to entire countries, for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, employer health and wellness services industry and for the healthcare commerce system. These solutions are licensed by more than 8,500 facilities around the world, including approximately 2,300 hospitals; 3,400 physician practices covering more than 30,000 physicians; 600 ambulatory facilities, such as laboratories, ambulatory centers, cardiac facilities, radiology clinics and surgery centers; 700 home-health facilities; and 1,500 retail pharmacies. The trademarks, service marks and logos (collectively, the "Marks") set forth herein are registered and unregistered trademarks and/or service marks owned by Cerner Corporation and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and certain other countries throughout the world. Nasdaq:CERN. For more information about Cerner, please visit www.cerner.com, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube .

About WellSpan Health

WellSpan Health is an integrated health system that serves the communities of south central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. The organization is comprised of two hospitals with a total of 653 licensed beds and more than 36,000 annual admissions. The system also includes more than 8,000 employees, 32 outpatient locations, five retail pharmacy sites, 62 primary care and specialty physician offices, a preferred provider organization and third party benefit administrator, home health & hospice services and two outpatient surgery centers. WellSpan is consistently recognized by SDI as one of the Top 100 Integrated Health Networks in the United States.

About Hospira

Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing WellnessTM. As the world leader in specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals, Hospira offers one of the broadest portfolios of generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management solutions. Through its products, Hospira helps improve the safety, cost and productivity of patient care. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has approximately 13,500 employees. Learn more at www.hospira.com.

CONTACT: Cerner
         Media Contact:
         Kelly Johnson
           (816) 777-8466
           [email protected]
         Investors Contact:
         Allan Kells
           (816) 201-2445
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         WellSpan Health
         Media Contact:
         Richard Ayers
         (717) 851-3145
         [email protected]
         
         Hospira
         Media Contact:
         Tareta Adams
         (224) 212-2535
         [email protected]