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"At Halifax Health, we are committed to remaining an industry leader in the adoption of an electronic medical record," said Jeff Feasel, President and CEO. "We will continue to invest in the necessary technology to make our clinical staff more efficient and effective, and in doing so provide better patient care."
Technology Ensures Better, Safer Care for Patients
Healthcare reform is on everyone's mind. Part of the process is computerizing health records. This allows for a digital workflow in your doctor's office, lab and medical center. It means that all documents, charts and archived information — even your xray or mammogram images — are stored digitally.
Among its benefits, an Electronic Medical Record (EMR):
- Gives doctors and other providers immediate access to your health records, saving precious time in an emergency
- Stores all health information securely, protecting patient privacy
- Reduces the risk for medical errors
- Saves money for patients and providers
- Enhances quality of care
The nation's leaders have made implementing an EMR a goal of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but Halifax Health is ahead of the game and is already on the way toward a paperless workflow.
Halifax Health Leads the Way in EMR Adoption
For years, officials and medical personnel at Halifax Health have been working toward an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and have already added:
- Bedside Medication Verification, which confirms a patient's identity and prescriptions before any medicine is given, reducing the risk for errors
- A patient care system that creates automated work lists, so providers can document care as they provide it
- An electronic ambulatory patient record in certain departments, which tracks a patient's medical history, checks for interactions among a patient's prescriptions and more
- Scanning and archiving of patient files, so physicians may view a patient's complete medical history electronically Electronic management of the operating room schedule, which enhances patient flow and improves care
In addition to the benefits for patients, an EMR will create a more efficient workplace for Halifax Health employees. What's more, Medicare and Medicaid incentives for health information technology could result in significant reimbursements for facilities that are successful in implementing an EMR.
Eight Stages of EMR Adoption
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, a non-profit that collects and analyzes healthcare data, has identified eight stages in the implementation of an EMR. In ascending order, beginning at zero, each stage marks a new milestone in information technology.
Stage 7 means that a healthcare system has fully adopted an EMR. Caregivers at all levels of care have access to electronic health information, whether they are on-site or at another facility.
A seamless transition requires a collaborative effort from everyone within a healthcare organization. While the focus is on technology, adopting an EMR requires collaboration among all staff members.
"From physicians and clinicians to executives and support staff, Halifax Health employees recognize the value of an electronic medical record," said Lori DeLone, Chief Information Officer at Halifax Health.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, only 17 percent of hospitals nationwide have reached Stage 1 in the progress toward an electronic medical record. Halifax Health is currently at stage six.
Halifax Health Masters Stage 6: Designated One of Nation's Most Automated Hospitals
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) - the authoritative source on electronic medal records (EMR) adoption trends - has awarded Halifax Health with Stage 6 designation for its implementation of EMR applications. One of only two healthcare facilities in Florida to reach this level, Halifax Health is now in the top one percent of more than 5,000 hospitals nationwide for EMR adoption.
HIMMS developed the EMR Adoption ModelSM (EMRAM) in 2005 as a method for evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals. The EMRAM scores hospitals in the HIMSS AnalyticsTM Database on their progress in completing eight stages (0-7), with the goal of reaching Stage 7 - the pinnacle of an environment where paper charts are no longer used to deliver patient care (see attached for detailed stage descriptions). Currently, there are 83 Stage 6 hospitals and 39 Stage 7 hospitals of the 5,172 hospitals in the United States and Canada. Florida has only two Stage 6 facilities and none at Stage 7.
Creating a paperless workflow in healthcare environments is a top priority for President Barack Obama. In fact, according to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, he expects full EMR compliance by 2014.
Halifax Health officials expect to reach Stage 7 by the end of 2011.
Track our EMR progress in upcoming issues of Health Matters.
For additional information on HIMSS, visit HIMSS.org
Electronic Medical Record Resources:
