July 20, 2004

Genesis Among "Most Wired" In The Nation

Most Wired Lead Nation's Hospitals in Embracing Electronic Medical Records

Davenport, IA - Hospitals & Health Networks has named Genesis as one of the nation's top 100 Most Wired hospitals. This achievement recognizes Genesis' leadership in establishing electronic medical records (EMR) that improve patient safety and quality of care. These records make patient information and history more readily accessible and decrease the amount of time hospital caregivers spend completing paperwork.

"Technology is a critical component of our health care system, allowing us to have a seamless flow of information that connects us both internally and externally." said Rob Frieden, Vice President of Information Services, Genesis Health System. "Electronic records are the future of health care and Genesis is committed to providing our caregivers with cutting-edge technology that allows them to improve quality, safety and the overall patient experience. We are honored to be the only Quad City-area hospital to receive this recognition."

Among the technology in which Genesis received this recognition:

• PACS, or the Picture Archiving and Communication System. PACS electronically stores and retrieves radiology images, which has many advantages over conventional films - hard copy or compact discs. As soon as the images have been acquired, they are instantaneously available to clinicians at multiple PC-based viewing stations on the network with Web links around the hospital. There are dedicated workstations in high-volume areas of the hospitals, such as the Emergency Rooms, Intensive Care Units and the Cardiovascular Operating Room.
• My e-health, a secure online personal EMR, allows users to create an account for themselves and their family members, is another reason for this recognition. This electronic record enables them to track personal health contact information, allergies, medical conditions and immunizations. It also allows users to store medication information and even check for drug interactions. "Having this information online in a secure location is easier, quicker and more efficient then tracking your medical history in a file folder," added Frieden. "This system allows the user to update and access their personal information whenever and wherever they like, giving them total freedom and piece of mind."
• GE Innovate™ 2000 all-digital cardiovascular imaging system in the cardiac cathetrization lab where heart specialists can better view and treat coronary artery blockages that could cause heart attacks or other serious cardiovascular damage. The revolutionary system allows cardiologists to view hard-to-see blood vessels with exceptional clarity under even the most difficult conditions. The technology, from GE Medical Systems, utilizes GE's breakthrough Revolution digital detector, which replaces conventional x-ray imaging components along with their artifacts and distortions for crisper, cleaner, clearer images. The Revolution™ digital detector reads x-rays passing through the patient’s body, creating an almost instantaneous image on a high-resolution monitor. Images from the GE Innova 2000 are viewed, networked and archived electronically in a totally film less fashion.
• Point of Care (POC) documentation allows caregivers to perform their charting tasks online, at the point in which care is provided. The computerized system allows for almost all of the documentation to be completed online – giving health care providers more time at the patient's bedside.

POC documentation, PACS, My e-health and the all-digital cath labs are just the beginning of the Genesis EMR initiative.

The Hospitals & Health Networks' 2004 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study measures the nation's hospitals on their use of Internet technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues. According to the results of the survey, the nation's Most Wired hospitals and health systems are making significant progress automating four key components of an electronic medical record. These components—current medical records, medical history, patient demographics and nurses' notes—form the foundation of an electronic medical record. Three of the four components are currently in place at Genesis.

Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the survey in cooperation with IDX Systems Corporation and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME).

Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, conducts the Most Wired survey annually. IDX Systems Corporation is a leading provider of software, services and technologies for health care provider organizations. The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) was formed with the dual objective of serving the professional development needs of health care chief information officers and advocating the more effective use of information management within health care. The entire report is available at http://www.hhnmag.com/.