HIMSS Analytics Honors Sentara® Healthcare with Stage 7 Award

The HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 Award honors hospitals that operate in a paperless environment and represent best practices in implementation of the EMR

HIMSS Analytics developed the EMR Adoption Model in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating 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.

Stage 7 hospitals:

• Deliver patient care without the use of paper charts
• Are able to share patient information by sending secure standardized summary record transactions to other care providers
• Use their vast database of clinical information to drive improved care delivery performance, patient safety clinical decision support, and outcomes using business intelligence solutions
• Are best practice examples of how to implement sophisticated EMR environments that fully engage their clinicians

The validation process that confirms a hospital has reached Stage 7 includes a site visit conducted by an executive from HIMSS Analytics and two current chief information officers to ensure an unbiased evaluation of the Stage 7 environments. 

“With Sentara eCare®, we now have an improved ability to capture patient data so that physicians and providers can study patient trends in real time and make resulting changes to the way care is delivered.  This transformation in the way we deliver care is helping Sentara ensure the highest quality and safest patient environment,” said David Bernd, Chief Executive Officer, Sentara Healthcare.

Sentara’s Chief Information Officer Bert Reese agrees, noting the benefits of technology in improving patient care. “Technology plays an increasingly important role in the delivery and improvement of patient care,” said Mr. Reese. “We have been steadily working to implement a comprehensive electronic medical record system, Sentara eCareÒ, because we know it is the right thing to do for our patients.”

“Stage 7 hospitals provide best practices that other healthcare organizations can study and emulate as they strive to use EMR applications to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes and patient care delivery efficiency,” said Mike Davies, HIMSS Analytics Executive Vice President.  “The accomplishments of Stage 7 hospitals serve as important indicators of high quality patient care with the interoperable electronic medical record in place.”

 Visit the HIMSS Analytics Web site for more information on the Stage 7 award.

Go to www.himssconference.org for more information on HIMSS10.

About Sentara Healthcare
Sentara Healthcare is acknowledged as a leader in patient safety and quality care innovation, which continues with the multi-year implementation of Sentara eCare®, a comprehensive electronic medical record.  Founded in 1888 as the Retreat for the Sick in Norfolk, Virginia, Sentara has been ranked for more than a decade among the nation’s top 10 most integrated healthcare systems by Modern Healthcare magazine, including the top ranking for 2010.  Sentara, a not-for-profit health system, operates more than 100 sites of care in Virginia and North Carolina including eight hospitals, rehabilitation and advanced imaging centers, ambulatory campuses and a 380-member medical group, home care and hospice services, medical transport ambulances and the Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance.  Optima Health, Sentara’s award-winning health plan serves 380,000 members.

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