Newswise — COLUMBIA, Mo. ― University of Missouri Health Care has been recognized for the fifth consecutive year as one of the nation’s “Most Wired” health systems, according to the 2015 Most Wired Survey. The survey was released in the July issue of the American Hospital Association’s “Hospitals & Health Networks” magazine.
Most Wired hospitals were determined by the annual Most Wired Survey, which recognizes top hospitals and health systems in the country that are making progress in the adoption of health information technology specific to the areas of infrastructure, business and administrative management, clinical quality and safety, and clinical integration. To achieve Most Wired designation, hospitals must make continuous advancements in the implementation of new technology.
“Each year, the bar is raised to become a Most Wired health system,” said Mitch Wasden, chief executive officer and chief operating officer of MU Health Care. “But at MU Health Care, we’re constantly striving to improve care through technology. We are honored to be recognized as a Most Wired health system for the fifth straight year.”
MU Health Care has reached several milestones in the adoption of information technology to improve patient care. In February, MU Health Care gave patients the ability to view physician notes online after a visit. The notes include clinical observations, diagnostic test results and other details of a patient’s care, which are automatically synced with the MU Healthe patient portal. The portal is an online secure tool that allows patients to manage appointments, securely message providers, request prescription refills, access immunization history and more.
In August 2014, MU Health Care became the first academic medical center and the ninth health system in the country to meet federal Stage 2 “meaningful use” standards for its adoption of medical information technology to improve patient care. MU Health Care also has been recognized for its adoption of electronic medical records, having achieved Stage 7 of the Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model — the highest level of EMR implementation set by HIMSS Analytics.
“Together with the Tiger Institute for Health Innovation, MU Health Care is working to develop solutions that streamline and improve patient care,” said Bryan Bliven, chief information officer at MU Health Care and executive director of the Tiger Institute. “Patients are at the heart of these innovations, which ultimately allow our clinicians to spend more face-to-face time with their patients.”
The “Hospitals & Health Networks” Most Wired Survey annually asks leaders of hospitals and health systems nationwide to answer questions regarding their information technology initiatives. Every hospital in the U.S. is invited to participate in the survey.
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