August 7, 2014 - To some hospitals, achieving HIMSS Stage 7 may seem like the pinnacle of success. Not so for Stamford Hospital (Stamford, CT). According to CIO David Taylor, the recognition of their paperless care environment is just one stop on their journey to delivering care in a new, unique way.
“Achieving Stage 7 was a collateral reward of our paperless initiative, which includes increasing EHR use in order to ensure the highest standards of patient safety and qualitative care,” says Taylor.
Beginning with their 2007 implementation of MEDITECH’s Computerized Physician Order Entry, Stamford continuously explores ways to use electronic health records to empower patients to become more engaged in their care and increase the impact of our caregivers. And while they continue exploring new avenues, achieving Stage 7 is a major milestone.
“For me, personally, Stage 7 represents the successful merger of technological advancement with information sharing,” says Taylor. “MEDITECH has enabled our providers to collect patient information and make it useful in ways that were just not possible before. With the suite of IT tools we possess, we have the potential to empower patients and help them improve their lives.”
For Stamford Hospital, going paperless required a complete team effort. “I’m very grateful for our staff’s dedication and willingness to go the extra mile for our patients,” says Taylor. “Our technology adoption couldn’t have been successful without the help of our physicians, nurses, and support staff. Each staff member has a voice in the process, and each of them share in this accomplishment.”
Next on the horizon, Stamford Hospital is looking at telemedicine and other technologies that bring care delivery out of the hospital and into the community or patient’s home.
“Healthcare isn’t just for the hospital setting anymore — the EHR is helping us to expand far beyond our facility’s walls, to reach patients in ways that are sometimes less traditional but often more meaningful. It’s a very exciting time for caregivers and patients alike.”