Hunterdon Healthcare System Named one of the "100 Most Wired" Hospitals
Published October 17, 2008
For the eighth year, Hunterdon Healthcare System was named one of the "100 Most Wired" hospitals in the country according to the results of a survey conducted by Hospitals and Health Networks magazine. The nation's "100 Most Wired" hospitals invest in technology to streamline business and clinical practices, improve patient safety, and improve clinical outcomes.
As one of only 11 hospitals or health systems in the nation to be named "Most Wired" eight times, Hunterdon Healthcare System takes pride in embracing leading-edge technology. "Our goal is to seamlessly integrate new technologies into our daily operations to provide a smoother, more patient-friendly experience" explained Glenn Mamary, Chief Information Officer of Hunterdon Healthcare System.
The Medical Imaging department at Hunterdon Medical Center uses a digital imaging system known as PACS, or Picture Archiving Communication System. Imaging procedures are performed in less time and results are reported to the physician as quickly as possible. The physician is able to access images and reports immediately from anywhere. This ensures faster turnaround of images and therefore a faster diagnosis. In an emergency, images can be viewed in seconds rather than in minutes or longer. All of the advantages of PACS lead to improved patient care.
Hunterdon Healthcare System has also made a tremendous commitment to the gradual implementation of the Electronic Medical Record system, which has already begun. At its completion, the majority of private and hospital-operated physician practices will be linked to a common program for clinical documentation (information in the patient's medical record.) The electronic medical record promotes better communication between multiple healthcare providers by allowing them to view one common medical record for each patient. This record contains medical history, drug allergies, immunizations, and treatments prescribed by primary care providers and specialists, including test results.
"The Electronic Medical Record can prompt the provider as to what preventive care guidelines are indicated for a given patient according to his/her age and sex so that those tests are ordered appropriately. It can also standardize the evaluation treatment for certain problems. For example, using a template, the physician could ask the same set of questions to every patient complaining of a headache, using agreed-upon best practices. This really enhances the quality of the care that patients receive," states Robert G. Coates, M.D., M.M.M., C.P.E., Medical Director for Hunterdon HealthCare Partners, a partnership between Hunterdon Healthcare System and over 170 physicians from its medical staff.
Electronic access to the medical record system facilitates a patient-friendly transition between consulting providers. In the past, a patient would have to pick up and hand-deliver records or request that a chart be transferred to a new provider. Once this system is fully operational, the new provider, with the patient's authorization, can access this information instantly. Timely access to complete clinical information enables the providers to deliver optimal care to their patients.
"At Hunterdon Healthcare System, patients are the number one priority. The more efficiently physicians and staff can communicate orders, test results, and patient information, the better treatment they can provide," states Mamary.