Mercy Medical Center named among nation’s Most Wired hospitals
Most Wired hospitals expertly connect providers and patients
Mercy Medical Center has again been named one of Health Care’s Most Wired hospitals, according to the results of the 2014 Most Wired Survey released in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks (H&HN) magazine, a trade publication published by the American Hospital Association. This is the seventh time since 2006 Mercy has received this recognition. Mercy is the only Cedar Rapids hospital to be named a 2014 Most Wired award recipient.
As the nation’s healthcare system transitions to more integrated and patient-centered care, hospitals such as Mercy are using information technology to better connect care providers and patients. Most Wired hospitals have met a set of rigorous criteria across four operational categories: Clinical quality and safety; infrastructure; clinical integration; and business and administrative management.
“As the nation’s healthcare system continues the transformation into new patient care delivery models and healthcare insurance programs, Mercy is providing continuous improvement and supporting improved second-curve metrics through the deployment of fully integrated patient care technologies,” said Jeff Cash, Sr. Vice President and CIO at Mercy. “These significant investments in advanced Health IT platforms also prepare our organization with flexible and capable technologies for the many changes yet to come. We are pleased that the Most Wired recognition reflects our adoption and success of significant IT initiatives.”
Cash says the recent enterprise-wide deployment of Mercy’s new Epic Electronic Medical Record and MyChart Patient Portal, while challenging for a stand-alone healthcare institution, was essential for the hospital’s ability to deliver seamless patient care across the care continuum.
“The Most Wired data show that shared health information allows clinicians and patients to have the information they need to promote health and make the most informed decisions about treatments,” says Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association. “Hospitals, their clinicians and their communities are doing tremendous work to enhance their IT systems in ways that support care and delivery improvement, and patient engagement goals.”
The annual Most Wired Survey reviews hospitals and health systems nationwide regarding their healthcare IT initiatives and capabilities. Mercy is one of 1,900 hospitals participating in the review, and one of the 375 hospitals formally recognized as meeting the criteria to be named a Most Wired hospital.
Mercy will be among the Most Wired winners to be recognized for this accomplishment at an awards ceremony in San Diego later this month.
