MU Health Care’s electronic medical record progress recognized
As it transitions from all-paper to all-electronic patient records, MU Health Care reached stage six of the Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model, HIMSS Analytics announced Wednesday.
Out of Missouri’s 151 hospitals, just 16 have reached this level. MU Health Care joins a group of only 197 hospitals nationwide that have reached the level.
“Reaching stage six means University of Missouri Health Care will have a significant advantage in supporting and recruiting physicians, nurses and other health professionals,” MU Health Care CEO Jim Ross said in a news release.
To reach stage six, MU Health Care used computers to reduce the number of medical errors. This eliminated hand-written doctors’ orders and prescriptions, which oftentimes resulted in an error. It also implemented computerized alert systems to alert professionals to potential problems, like a patient’s allergy.
Computers allow a patient’s caregivers immediate access to his or her updated medical information. They also sped up the ordering of laboratory tests, giving caretakers quicker access to these tests.
“The most important aspect of our progress with implementing the electronic medical record is the way we are utilizing information technology to improve patient safety,” Ross said. “Reaching stage six also means University of Missouri Health Care is well-positioned to successfully address many of the changes resulting from health care reform. These include meaningful use criteria in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, pay for performance and government quality-reporting programs.”
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act gives hospitals and physicians stimulus incentive payments which will allow them to obtain “meaningful use” of medical records in a set amount of time.
The same year as the act was passed in 2009, MU and Cerner began plans to create the Tiger Institute for Health Innovation. Goals of the center included achieving stimulus funding for government-mandated information technology, which included electronic medical records.
“Information technology will play an increasing role in the practice of medicine in the future, allowing better value through improved quality and efficiency,” MU Health Care Vice Chancellor Harold Williamson, MD said in a news release. “The creativity and expertise of our medical, nursing and health professions faculty has been invaluable in helping us reach this technology milestone.”
Ross said MU’s partnership with Cerner is the main reason it has been able to advance its health technology.