HIMSS Analytics announced that Hilo Medical Center, located in Hilo, HI., has received the acute care Stage 7 award. The award represents attainment of the highest level on the Electronic Medical Records Adoption Model℠ (EMRAM), which is used to track EMR progress at hospitals and health systems.
HIMSS Analytics developed the EMR Adoption Model in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics™ Database. There are eight stages (0-7) that measure a hospital’s implementation and utilization of information technology applications. The final stage, Stage 7, represents an advanced patient record environment. The validation process to confirm a hospital has reached Stage 7 includes a site visit by an executive from HIMSS Analytics and former or current chief information officers to ensure an unbiased evaluation of the Stage 7 environments.
During the third quarter of 2013, 2.2 percent, of the more than 5,400 U.S. hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics® Database, received the HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 Award,
“I applaud Hilo Medical Center’s HealthConnect team, our staff and physicians for achieving Stage 7, the highest level in the quality assurance process for the East Hawaii Region’s electronic medical record system,” said Howard Ainsley, East Hawaii Regional CEO of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. “This accomplishment puts our hospital at the highest level of EMR adoption and implementation, which means we have a well-tested system to care for our patients with the highest level of safety, privacy and functionality. We would also like to thank our EMR partners, MEDITECH and Health Systems Informatics, Inc. for their continued support and guidance through the ever-changing Healthcare IT landscape. Their partnership with our organization has been critical to achieving this national recognition for our community.”
Hilo Medical Center (HMC) consists of 276 beds located throughout the 142-bed acute hospital, 20-bed behavioral health facility and 112-bed long-term care facility. HMC employees 250 physicians, representing 33 specialties. The hospital’s Level III Trauma Center includes the second busiest emergency room in the state, providing 24-hour care to more than 42,000 patients annually.
HMC is part of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a public entity established in 1996 by the State of Hawaii to fulfill the promise to provide quality, hometown healthcare
“Hilo Medical Center has come a long way in a very short time. They have effectively leveraged their internal resources to achieve advanced EMR capabilities with a small budget and without the advantage of external staffing. They are a great case study in how hospitals can achieve big results with minimal resources,” said John Daniels, CNM, FHIMSS, FACHE, CPHIMS, CHPS, vice president, strategic relations, HIMSS.
The hospital will be recognized at the 2014 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition on Feb. 24-26, 2014, in Orlando, Fla.
Visit the HIMSS Analytics Web site for more information on the Stage 7 award.
