CMO
and CIO Team up on the Road to Stage 6
(7/22/2009)
Within most hospital settings, the CIO role is designed to
help the organization advance its health information
technology initiatives, while the CMO monitors the quality
and safety of care, ensuring the highest standards and
protocols are followed. But when these two powerful positions
team up, the results can have positive and far-reaching
effects across the entire health care organization. Such is
the case at Gila Regional Medical Center (Silver City, NM),
where the CMO and CIO have worked together to encourage the
hospital to view technology as a necessity for improving the
quality of care. This approach ultimately led this small, 68-bed
hospital to become the latest MEDITECH customer to achieve
Stage 6 on the HIMSS Analytics EMR adoption model.
"For GRMC, it's not about achieving one HIMSS Analytics
stage or the next-this recognition is a testament to all the
work we have done with health information technology to
improve the quality of care and positively impact patient
outcomes," says Chief Information Officer David Furnas,
BSCS, PMBA, CISM. "But implementing technology into the
care setting did not come without some challenges and
resistance along the way-which is why developing a close
partnership with our CMO, Jean Remillard, MD, MBA, was so
important to overcoming these hurdles."
CIO, CMO
Relationship Fosters Connection Between I.T. and Clinical
Outcomes
Starting with the Board level and trickling down to clinical
staff, Furnas notes GRMC made a commitment to use MEDITECH
for improving the quality and safety of care. Working
alongside Dr. Remillard, Furnas explains the close working
relationship has enabled the organization to leverage its
MEDITECH MAGIC Health Care Information System (HCIS) in the
care setting.
"Because I don't have a clinical background, one of the
greatest benefits of working closely with our CMO is that any
initiatives I may bring forward will always get put through
Dr. Remillard's 'clinical filter,'" says Furnas. "Having
all our hospital I.T. projects carefully evaluated from a
clinical perspective reduces the chances of our physicians
and nurses resisting the technology."
Dr. Remillard also believes the close working relationship
with Furnas helps encourage the hospital's physicians to rely
on the MEDITECH system for clinical decision support. "In
my experience, I have seen a direct correlation between
health information technology and quality of patient care,"
says Dr. Remillard. "It is a lot easier for the
organization to move forward with technology when there is
collaboration between the CMO and CIO."
In addition to the leadership of GRMC's CIO and CMO, the
hospital's Chief Nursing Officer, Cathy Woodard, RN, MSN, MHA,
has been very instrumental in the hospital's buy-in of
technology.
"Because of Cathy's leadership, the nurses have a true
understanding of the important role of technology," says
Dr. Remillard. "If you walk throughout the hospital, you
will see Computers on Wheels (COWs) scattered across the unit
floors, with nurses documenting and reviewing patient
information. Having the support from Cathy provides us with a
multi-pronged approach to get physicians to commit to
technology the same way our nurses have."
Clinical
Analysts, Physician Champions Provide Additional Layer of
Clinical Support
While executive leadership was key to GRMC's Stage 6
recognition, the hospital also credits its clinical analysts,
and physician champion, whose support helped the clinicians
adapt to the technology throughout the various stages of GRMC's
MEDITECH implementation.
"GRMC has three clinical analysts who know the ins and
outs of our MEDITECH clinical applications," says Furnas.
"And, because of their clinical background, they
understand the changes in workflow that will come from the
technology, which enables them to offer insight for
enhancements and improvements to foster buy-in."
In addition, the hospital's physician champion, Maria Elena
Arizaga, MD, works closely with the physicians whenever a new
solution is unveiled to the hospital. "Dr. Arizaga's
leadership is instrumental as our physician solutions
continue to evolve," says Dr. Remillard. "Now, all
images are viewed on PACS and any information not documented
in MEDITECH is dictated into the chart. In addition, Dr.
Arizaga is playing a large role as the hospital advances its
MEDITECH computerized physician order entry (CPOE) solution."
Reaching
New Heights in its Journey to Excellence
With such a large focus on quality, it is no surprise that
GRMC has received a number of industry awards along the way.
In addition to the hospital's recent Stage 6 designation, the
hospital received the 2008 Quality New Mexico Roadrunner
Recognition, which recognizes organizations for commitment in
the implementation and progress of quality standards, and is
also modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality
Award.
"After receiving the Quality New Mexico Roadrunner
Recognition, we were very curious to find out where we fit on
the HIMSS Analytics Stages as both awards reflect the
utilization of technology to improve processes and outcomes,"
explains Furnas. "It is very rewarding to know our
quality efforts are being recognized by such prestigious
industry organizations."
Now, with the Stage 6 achievement and Roadrunner Recognition
under the hospital's belt, Furnas believes GRMC is ready to
pursue the Baldrige journey. "With Stage 6 heavily
focusing on information technology and Roadrunner Recognition
modeled after the strict criteria of the Baldrige award, we
have crossed an important bridge in our journey towards the
Baldrige recognition."
MEDITECH
Medical
Information Technology, Inc.
MEDITECH Circle
Westwood, MA 02090
781-821-3000
www.meditech.com