Newswise — NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) has been recognized among the nation’s “Most Wired” hospitals according to the results of the 2012 Most Wired Survey released this week in the latest issue of Hospitals & Health Networks, the flagship magazine of the American Hospital Association.

The annual “Most Wired” survey recognizes hospitals and health systems for excellence in information technology (IT) initiatives. This year, RWJUH is one of only nine hospitals in New Jersey to achieve the “Most Wired” status and is among less than a dozen hospitals in the state to be recognized for its IT initiatives based on the survey results.

This year’s findings show that, as a field, the nation’s “Most Wired” hospitals are leveraging the adoption and use of health information technology (IT) to improve performance in a number of areas, such as protecting patient data and optimizing patient flow and communications.

RWJUH has received more than $5.5 million in Medicaid incentive meaningful use payments to support its transition to all electronic medical records by 2014. Robert Irwin, Vice President of Information Technology at RWJUH, says the hospital already has digitalized more than 80 percent of its patient records and continues to make significant progress toward achieving its goal.

The hospital also has all patient discharge summaries, nurses’ notes and physical therapy reports filed electronically. Irwin also notes that RWJUH is investing in an Electronic Master Patient Index to properly identify patients at the time of service across the continuum of care.

Irwin says that transitioning to electronic medical records will not only increase the efficiency of hospital operations, it will enhance the quality of care it provides. “Converting to electronic medical records also will make it easier to share information among hospitals, doctors and providers in many settings,” he explains. “It has enormous potential to reduce the risk of medical errors caused by data entry issues or illegible handwriting.” Irwin adds “The ability for a clinician to view a patient’s clinical information at the time of treatment is critical to improving the patient experience and lowering costs. Duplicate diagnostic tests are eliminated, repetitive questions are reduced and medications are properly managed, which contributes to an increasingly informed care team.”

Irwin also points out that by harnessing the power of this collective data through storing and cataloging it electronically, health care providers and researchers will be able to conduct population studies to identify trends and address specific needs, which can lead to an overall improvement in the population’s health.

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. At RWJUH, the hospital’s social media presence continues to grow. Usage of the hospital’s Facebook page increased by 193 percent in 2011. The hospital also used its Facebook and Twitter pages to provide regular updates to the public about hospital operations during Hurricane Irene, which struck New Jersey in August 2011.

“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,” says Rich Umbdenstock, President and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA).

The July H&HN cover story detailing survey results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

About the AHAThe American Hospital Association (AHA) is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. Close to 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 42,000 individual members come together to form the AHA. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at www.aha.org.

About the Most Wired Survey The 2012 Most Wired Survey is conducted in cooperation with McKesson Corporation, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), and the American Hospital Association. 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.

About Robert Wood Johnson University HospitalRobert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) is a 600-bed academic medical center and the principal hospital of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ. Robert Wood Johnson is an innovative leader in advancing state-of-the-art care. RWJUH is the first hospital in the nation to implant the AbioCor self-contained artificial heart since the device received FDA approval in 2006. RWJUH is one of only three sites in the nation approved to offer this groundbreaking technology. Its Centers of Excellence include cardiovascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care, and women’s and children’s care including The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (www.bmsch.org). The hospital is also a Level 1 Trauma Center and serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness. The hospital has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety. RWJUH ranks among the best hospitals in America, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 ranking of “America’s Best Hospitals.” It is the fifth consecutive year that RWJUH has achieved this prestigious ranking. The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer has rated RWJUH among the nation's best comprehensive cancer centers. The Leapfrog Group rated RWJUH as one of the 50 exceptional U.S. hospitals, as published in Consumers Digest magazine. Harvard University researchers, in a study commissioned by The Commonwealth Fund, identified RWJUH as one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for clinical quality. RWJUH is also a four-time recipient of the prestigious Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence.