Methodist Health System has been recognized for the fifth consecutive year as one of the nation’s “Most Wired,” according to the results of the 2014 Most Wired Survey released today in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. The award honors achievement in the use of health care information technology. Methodist is one of only 16 hospitals or health care systems in Texas recognized.

The nation’s Most Wired hospitals are using health information technology (IT) to improve performance in a number of areas, according to Health Care’s Most Wired 2014 Survey released July 9. As a field, hospitals are focused on expanding and adopting IT that protects patient data, optimizes patient flow and communications and promotes safety.
 
“Methodist has worked to deliver advanced clinical decision support directly to our patients by deploying high-adoption Computerized Physician Order Entry with evidence based order sets,” says Sam Bagchi, MD, senior vice president, CMIO and chief quality officer, Methodist Health System. “Methodist physicians are completely committed to using technology to improve the quality and safety of our care.” 

Among the actions that Methodist is taking for effective use of medical information technology:

• 2013 pilot participant in The North Texas Accountable Healthcare Partnership (NTAHP) secure health information exchange to improve the delivery of patient care. 
• High adoption of Computerized Physician Order Entry using evidence orders and order sets
• Methodist checks drug interactions and drug allergies when medications are ordered as a major step in reducing medication errors. 
• Methodist uses barcode enabled bedside medication administration at all its facilities to ensure the right medication is given to the right patient at the right time.

“This year’s Most Wired organizations exemplify progress through innovation,” says Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association. “The hospital field can learn from these outstanding organizations ways that IT can help to improve efficiency.”

Effective use of health information technology helps equip caregivers with the information needed to drive quality, safety and efficiency and to achieve best possible outcomes while managing capacity, reducing costs, and coordinating care across multiple settings.

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 680 surveys, representing 1,901 hospitals, or roughly 33 percent of all U.S. hospitals.

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

Guided by the founding principles of life, learning, and compassion, Methodist Health System uses some of the latest medical technology and research to bring quality health care to individuals and families throughout North Texas.  Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Methodist Richardson Medical Center, and Methodist Family Health Centers are part of the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. Additional information is available here. Connect with them through Facebook, YouTube and Twitter here.

The AHA is a nonprofit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members. 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 Web site at aha.org.
 

The 2014 Most Wired Survey is conducted in cooperation with McKesson Corp., AT&T, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, and the American Hospital Association.

McKesson Corp., currently ranked 14th on the FORTUNE 500, is a health care services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of health care run better. The company partners with payers, hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. McKesson helps its customers improve their financial, operational and clinical performance with solutions that include pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management, health care information technology, and business and clinical services. For more information, visit mckesson.com.

AT&T is connecting healthcare in exciting, efficient new ways to help you enhance clinical collaboration, improve patient engagement and care outcomes, lower costs, and move to value-based care. AT&T ForHealthSM is developing and delivering advanced IT solutions in four areas: mHealth solutions; care collaboration and health information exchange platforms; telehealth solutions; and cloud-based services and applications. From health plans to hospitals to physician offices to patients’ homes, we’re connecting stakeholders across the continuum of care, using smart networks and mobile technologies that help create a healthier world. For more information, visit corp.att.com/healthcare/solutions

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers and other senior health care IT leaders. With more than 1,400 CIO members and more than 85 health care IT vendors and professional services firms, CHIME provides a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate; exchange best practices; address professional development needs; and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and health care in the communities they serve. For more information, visit cio-chime.org.