Integration
Makes All the Difference
After selecting MEDITECH’s integrated solution, Salina
Regional Health Center manages to reduce operational expenses
while achieving Stage 6 EMR adoption.
(2/15/2011)
Salina Regional Health Center (Salina, KS),
one of the largest rural hospitals serving the patients of
Kansas, recently became one of MEDITECH's latest customers to
achieve Stage 6 EMR Adoption recognition from HIMSS Analytics.
According to Larry Barnes, vice president and chief
information officer at Salina Regional, the decision to
select MEDITECH's integrated HCIS was a major factor in their
success.
"Since implementing the MEDITECH system in 2007, we have
made great strides in our quality of care initiatives,"
says Barnes. "We are extremely proud of how far our
organization has come in such a short period of time.
Achieving Stage 6 was never a specific target in our minds—but
we're happy that our long-term efforts to improve the quality
and safety of patient care are being recognized."
Barnes believes that the HIMSS Analytics EMR adoption model
reflects the future direction of customer service in the
health care industry. "More than ever before, our
patient consumers are demanding that their needs be met
quickly, almost instantaneously," he says.
"Having MEDITECH's Advanced Clinical technology at the
bedside—from Bedside Verification to Physician
Documentation—we are able to meet those needs by
streamlining the care process. The HIMSS Analytics model of
care delivery reaffirms why information technology is such an
integral part of today's clinical workflow."
Hospitalists
Lead the Way in I.T. Adoption
According to I.S. Director Mike McEldowney, Salina Regional's
hospitalists are setting the bar for I.T. adoption across the
hospital. Last fall, the hospitalists went LIVE with
Physician Care Manager (PCM), as well as Emergency Department
Management (EDM).
"We've made a lot of progress with our hospitalists'
support of technology," says McEldowney. "Open
communication is key to accomplishing clinician buy-in—and
our I.S. team has been committed to listening to physicians'
concerns, and responding to their suggestions in a timely
manner."
As the organization gears up for rolling out MEDITECH's
Advanced Clinicals across the rest of the hospital, Physician
Liaison Jon Richards, MD, will play a key role in enabling
Salina Regional to push forward with its EHR efforts.
"Dr. Richards is the bridge connecting physicians and
the I.S. staff," says Barnes. "By having a
dedicated physicians' liaison, we are overcoming the user
resistance hospitals commonly face when moving away from more
paper-based processes."
Reducing
Operational Expenses, Preparing for the Future
In addition to achieving Stage 6, Salina Regional is also
finding their integrated system is leading to a substantial
reduction in operational expenses. "Since going LIVE
with our MEDITECH system, our cost analysis has shown a
drastic decline in the percentage of I.T. related expenses,"
says Barnes.
"In 2006, when we were a best-of-breed shop, I.T.
encompassed 4.7% of our total operating expenses. But since
switching to MEDITECH, these expenses have trended downward,
hovering around 3-3.25%. That's a significant savings, which
can now be used to benefit patient care in other areas."
With MEDITECH, Barnes is confident that Salina will be able
to continue delivering top-quality, economical care, even as
patient and caregiver expectations rise. "We are
providing our care teams with a system that has more
functionality at a lower cost, which bodes very well for our
future," he says. "As we continue to implement I.T.
to support our clinicians' needs, I am confident that Stage 7
will be not only reachable, but inevitable, for us."
MEDITECH
Medical
Information Technology, Inc.
MEDITECH Circle
Westwood, MA 02090
781-821-3000
www.meditech.com