Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Community Healthcare - (Page 49)

in Healthcare An Epic Change By ElisE sims online For more information about Epic and the quality care at the hospitals of Community Healthcare System, visit our website at www.comhs.org. W New electronic medical record system revolves around you e’re making big changes to your healthcare experience—ones you’ll notice the next time you visit your doctor’s office, go to the Emergency department, or have outpatient tests at one of our hospitals. Community Healthcare System is putting in place a $40 million electronic medical record system, called Epic, that creates a single, consolidated and continuously updated record for every patient. Epic enables the entire Community Healthcare System team to more easily share vital information and consult with one another about a patient’s care no matter where he or she receives that care. Health information can be accessed from multiple locations using staff’s workstations or from handheld or mobile devices. With Epic, patient care is documented as it happens, so it’s available in real time. If you have a test completed at an outpatient center, then arrive for emergency care at one of our hospitals, doctors will have immediate access to your test results. It’s the first step in sharing health information to help avoid duplicating tests already performed by another caregiver. “By closing the communication loop between different care providers who need access to a patient’s health information, our hospitals will not only become more efficient but will be able to enhance areas of care and patient safety in the process,” says John Gorski, chief operating officer, Community Healthcare System. On the Record access to a more complete health record, physicians at the hospital may not need to repeat tests done through the physician office. Besides healthcare provider and patient conveniences and efficiencies, Epic creates a safer hospital environment for everyone. New tracking technologies safeguard against misidentification errors that could potentially lead to adverse results. There are no more handwritten notes, and medical orders, records and prescriptions are typed, stored and clearly visible to those who need to interpret orders and fill medications. ID bar-coded wristbands will be scanned before medications are dispensed, offering more safeguards for patients. Sync Up yoUr phySician and the hoSpital Patients who choose physicians in the system’s care network will have the advantage of Epic information system being used in their doctor’s offices. Therefore, patients’ healthcare information can be accessible to the healthcare team caring for them in the hospital. With Vim & Vigor • SUMM ER 2011 49 http://www.comhs.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Community Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Community Healthcare
Contents
Community Message
When Stroke Strikes, Seconds Count
Rays of Hope Fight Cancer
Girl Talk
Say What?
Action Plan
Like This? Try That!
Being George Clooney
A Day in the Life of Your Heart
Unexpected Heroes
Get in Gear
A Real Lifesaver
A Real Lifesaver
Spotlight on Community Hospital
Spotlight on St. Catherine Hospital
Spotlight on St. Mary Medical Center
A Safer Hospital Stay

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Community Healthcare