| July 17, 2008 | Media contact: Bruce Spiher E-mail: spiher@umich.edu Phone: 734-764-2220 |
U-M Health System named one of 2008 "Most Wired" and "Most Wireless" hospitals and health systems
Patient Satisfaction is Higher at Most Wired Hospitals
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan Health System has been named to the nation’s Most Wired and Most Wireless hospitals, according to the results of the 2008 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study. The study was released this week in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.
"Our team has worked tirelessly to create and maintain an exceptional wired and wireless environment at the University of Michigan Health System,” says Jocelyn DeWitt, Ph.D., chief information officer, U-M Hospitals and Health Centers, “and we are pleased that our successes in both areas are being recognized by Hospitals & Health Networks this year. These technologies are essential for our electronic patient care environment and for supporting clinicians - both on location at our hospitals and health centers and when they are away from campus and need immediate access to patient applications."
According to this latest analysis, the 100 Most Wired hospitals show better outcomes in patient satisfaction, risk-adjusted mortality rates and other key quality measures through the use of information technology. The Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study is in its tenth year of analyzing and benchmarking of healthcare information technology. The study included 556 completed surveys, which represented 1,327 hospitals.
"We have been pursuing a strategic direction for several years to improve how we use information technology to enhance delivery of patient care, research and education," says Doug Strong, M.B.A., director and chief executive officer, UMHHC.
"We have had three major successes this year as part of our increased IT commitment. We completed implementation of an online order entry system, U-M CareLink, which improves the quality and safety of inpatient care in the Health System by moving from what was once a cumbersome paper process to one handled electronically in a faster, safer and more standardized fashion. This system allows physicians, nurses and technicians to order laboratory tests, procedures, medications, and nutrition services online from any computer, eliminating the need for paper forms. Second, we are building a new data center to house the primary information and communication technology that supports the current and anticipated future patient care activities for the Health System. And third, we now provide free access to wireless connectivity in public areas of the University Hospital, C. S. Mott Children's Hospital, and the Cardiovascular Center."
The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, the journal of the American Hospital Association, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use information technology for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues. H&HN has named the most wired hospitals and health systems since 1999 and the most wireless ones since 2002.
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