The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has become the first non-profit healthcare provider in the United States to achieve the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 2 rating, an internationally recognized standard for effectiveness and efficiency in software development.
The rating is based on a rigorous appraisal methodology from Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute, according to the organization.
The scope of the appraisal focused on UPMC’s Strategic Biodefense Emergency Operations and Communications System (SBEOCS) team. Developed over the past four years, the system helps emergency management officials, first responders, hospitals and others to coordinate care during disasters, manage and share assets, and collaborate on disaster planning. SBEOCS includes a public information Web site which contains information to help the public plan for, respond to and recover from disasters. This system most recently was used during the H1N1 flu outbreak to coordinate information for UPMC, the region and the state.
CMMI is a performance improvement methodology that was established to guide users in improving quality and efficiency through repeatable processes. The primary focus of CMMI is to identify and leverage an organization’s best IT practices in key disciplines to better meet its business objectives.
UPMC is an $8 billion integrated health enterprise headquartered in Pittsburgh. The nonprofit health system has 50,000 employees and includes 20 hospitals, 400 doctors’ offices and outpatient sites, long-term care facilities and a major health insurance services division.
