Great River Medical Center Demonstrates MEDITECH'S Electronic Medical Record to Senator Clinton
(11/07/2007)

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton recently had the opportunity to see electronic health records in action at Great River Medical Center (West Burlington, IA), a MEDITECH customer which has been LIVE with EMR since December 1, 1998. The presidential hopeful visited the site on Sunday, November 4th to experience first-hand how electronic records are connecting patients and physicians across the health care continuum.

"Ms. Clinton met with Dr. David Carlson, our physician champion for computerization and long-time member of our physician advisory committee, as well as the Chairman of the Board, CEO, and myself," says Jackie Welch, RN, BSN, I.S. clinical systems manager for Great River. "She was very interested in learning more about electronic records, particularly the not-so-distant future capability for patients to access their own records, and the impact RHIOs will have."

Throughout her campaign, Clinton has been a strong proponent of health care reform and especially the importance of electronic health records. She has also emphasized the need for accessible, affordable high-speed Internet for everyone, urban and rural. The folks at Great River caught her attention due to their robust computerized system.

"I demonstrated how our Electronic Medical Records (EMR) allow physicians to have complete access to patient information anytime, anywhere, regardless of where they are," Welch explains. "The EMR is accessible to our physicians in their offices on campus, remotely from their home, or on a handheld while they are doing rounds or out traveling."

Two therapists and a rehab outpatient also demonstrated the advantages of the hospital's EMR system to Senator Clinton. During the patient's appointment, Clinton watched as the therapists documented the patient's progress at the point-of-contact. The therapists then showed her how the patient's physician would be able to view this information in the EMR from anywhere there is a high-speed Internet connection.

In addition to the EMR, Welch also showed Clinton the MEDITECH Imaging and Therapeutic Services digital imaging software. "I showed her all the links to images, CT scans, ultrasounds, x-rays, MRIs, and mammograms that our clinicians have available to them through the patient's EMR. I also graphed all our Laboratory information over the last five years for her, and explained how having MEDITECH as our single HCIS vendor has enabled us to have a truly integrated record," says Welch.

After meeting with Ms. Welch, Dr. Carlson, and the rest of the Great River team, Sen. Clinton then moved over to Mercy Plaza, an area on campus between two medical buildings, where there was a large group of supporters waiting. Clinton addressed the crowd for 45 minutes, answering questions and thanking the team at Great River for showing her their electronic health record.

"Senator Clinton is impressed with the ways we are improving patient care through integrated medical records," Welch concludes. "We were very excited to have her visit our facility and recognize us as an agent of change in Iowa."

 

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