Piedmont one of nation’s ‘Most Wired’ hospitals

Piedmont Hospital has been named one of the nation’s “Most Wired” hospitals, as a result of  the Health Care’s Most Wired 2012 Survey released in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.

Piedmont Hospital was among more than 200 hospitals recognized for leveraging the adoption and use of health information technology (IT) to improve performance in a number of areas, according to a press release from Piedmont Hospital.

“As healthcare evolves, the need for health information technology that protects patient data, optimizes patient flow and enhances communication grows,” said Les Donahue, president and CEO of Piedmont Hospital. “At Piedmont, we’ve always tried to stay ahead of the curve and find IT solutions that accomplish these things. We’re honored to be named a ‘Most Wired’ hospital.”

Among the key findings in the Health Care’s Most Wired 2012 survey this year: 

·         Ninety-three percent of Most Wired hospitals employ intrusion detection systems to protect patient privacy and security of patient data, in comparison to seventy-seven percent of the total responders.

·         Seventy-four percent of Most Wired hospitals and fifty-seven percent of all surveyed hospitals use automated patient flow systems.

·         Ninety percent of Most Wired hospitals and seventy three percent of all surveyed use performance improvement scorecards to help reduce inefficiencies.

·         One hundred percent of Most Wired hospitals check drug interactions and drug allergies when medications are ordered as a major step in reducing medication errors.

“As shown by these survey results, hospitals continue to demonstrate how IT not only can be used to improve patient care and safety but it is also a means to improve efficiency,” said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA).

Of note, nearly one half of Most Wired hospitals utilize social media for community outreach and crisis communication compared to one-third of total respondents. In addition, more than 25 percent offer care management messages and chats with physicians. 

Health Care’s Most Wired Survey, conducted between Jan. 15 and March 15, asked hospitals and health systems nationwide to answer questions regarding their IT initiatives. Respondents completed 662 surveys, representing 1,570 hospitals, or roughly 27 percent of all U.S. hospitals