PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In January of this year, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) announced that Aria Health has achieved Stage 6 of the HIMSS Analytics Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Adoption Model(SM). This distinction acknowledges our organization's accomplishments to implement technology solutions that have the ability to improve patient safety and quality of care.
Aria Health is committed to leading the way in finding innovative ways to deliver exceptional healthcare to patients in the Philadelphia region. Leveraging the growing world of healthcare information technology is part of realizing our mission, and this recent recognition reflects our level of dedication.
HIMSS Analytics developed the EMR Adoption Model in 2005 as a way to evaluate the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics™ Database. Tracking their progress in completing eight stages (0-7), hospitals can review the implementation and utilization of information technology applications with the intent of reaching Stage 7, which represents an advanced electronic patient record environment.
Central to achieving this recognition has been the significant enhancements of the electronic health record as well as the organization's achievements in implementing new physician clinical documentation work flows, patient quality initiatives and meeting stringent quality goals.
Currently, 699 hospitals of the more than 5,400 (13%) in the United States carry a Stage 6 designation. Like Aria Health, these hospitals are distinguished by certain technological criteria such as:
- They have almost fully automated/paperless medical records when they have implemented their IT applications across most of the inpatient care settings.
- They are either starting to evaluate their data for care delivery process improvements or have already documented significant improvements in this area.
- They have begun to create strategic alignments with their medical staff to effectively utilize information technology to improve the patient safety environment.
Our organization has made significant commitments and investments to reach this stage because we recognize the strategic value of improving patient care via EMR. This level of technological capability puts us at a competitive advantage in the healthcare marketplace. We are well positioned to provide data to key stakeholders, such as payers, the government, physicians, consumers, and employers, to support electronic health record environments and health information exchanges.
As of November 27, 2013, Aria Health met year one, two, and three of the HI-TECH goals for
quality, safety and efficiency of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 as
defined by the Meaningful Use Final Rule. This recent achievement positions Aria to be successful with achieving the ARRA goals, measurements, and funding through 2014 and beyond.
"I think this achievement demonstrates what a talented, dedicated IT staff we have," said Chief Information Officer Tom Stride. "Everyone was committed to ensuring Aria achieved this status, and it showed in the high level of effort our team devoted to make it happen."
Stride also recognized Aria Health's senior leadership for this achievement. "Organizations don't reach this kind of accomplishment without support from the very top," he added. "The investment made shows their foresight and understanding of the advantages of achieving this level of innovation."
About HIMSS Analytics
HIMSS Analytics is a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). The company collects and analyzes healthcare data related to IT processes and environments, products, IS department composition and costs, IS department management metrics, healthcare trends and purchase-related decisions. HIMSS Analytics delivers high quality data and analytical expertise to healthcare delivery organizations, healthcare IT companies, state governments, financial companies, pharmaceutical companies, and consulting firms. Visit www.himssanalytics.org/ for more information.
About Aria Health
Aria Health is the largest healthcare provider in Northeast Philadelphia and Lower Bucks County. With three leading-edge community hospitals and a strong network of outpatient centers and primary care physicians, Aria upholds a longstanding tradition of bringing advanced medicine and personal care to the many communities it serves.
For more information call 1-877-808-ARIA (2742) or visit www.ARIAHEALTH.org.
SOURCE Aria Health
Share this article