Providence Regional Medical Center Receives HIMSS Stage 7 Certification

Feb. 14, 2017
Providence Regional Medical Center’s use of an electronic health record (EHR) has resulted in improved care for patients both during their hospital visits and once they have returned home.

HIMSS Analytics has recognized Providence Regional Medical Center’s use of an electronic health record (EHR) to improve care for patients both during their hospital visits and after discharge and, as a result, the healthcare provider organization has acheived Stage 7 acute care validation on the HIMSS Analytics Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM).

HIMSS Analytics developed the eight-stage EMR Adoption Model as a tool to benchmark information technology maturity in healthcare organizations. Less than five percent of hospitals in the U.S. have achieved Stage 7 certification.

According to HIMSS, Providence Regional Medical Center, based in Everett, Washington, has significantly improved patient care following discharge. The first week after discharge is a critical one, but primary care teams infrequently saw patients for follow-up. Now, when a patient is discharged, the patient’s primary care team is notified through the EHR. A care management nurse working with the primary care physician is then able to immediately access the chart, review medication changes and follow up plans and call the patient to confirm, answer questions and schedule appropriate early follow up, according to the case study. The instant and constant connectivity uncovers misunderstandings or persistent symptoms, and has avoided returns to the hospital. 

“Our health IT has resulted in many improvements in our ability to care for patients,” Frank Andersen, M.D., interim chief medical officer and a physician informaticist at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, said in a prepared statement. “Electronic medical records are now available to every member of the team without going to a central location to find a paper chart – and no more fighting over who gets to use the chart first. Connectivity with our community partners’ electronic systems has also dramatically sped up our ability to get medical information from other clinics and other hospitals. It saves a great deal of time to have the ability to see records from other clinics instantly, compared to the hours of waiting for a fax to come in.” 

Before the electronic health record connections to the hospital, primary care teams at Providence Medical Group relied on voicemail messaging and faxed records to keep up with patients after a hospitalization.

“Providence Health & Services has a culture of openness and transparency. They not only post key performance indicators (KPIs) for staff to review on learning boards; Providence even has a 50-inch touch screen in the lobby with their KPIs measured against the state and national averages, welcoming visitors to drill down into detail. This is a very bold move,” Philip Bradley, regional director, HIMSS Analytics, healthcare advisory services, operations, said in a statement.

Providence Regional Medical Center will be recognized at the 2017 HIMSS Conference & Exhibition on Feb. 19-23, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. 

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