Yale New Haven Health System receives national information technology award

7/12/2013 — Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS), including Bridgeport, Greenwich and Yale New Haven hospitals, has been selected as one of the Most Wired health systems in the nation by Hospitals and Health Networks, a trade magazine published by the American Hospital Association. This recognition is based on technology advancements made by organizations to enhance patient safety, clinical quality and customer service and improve efficiency in healthcare organizations.

The nation's Most Wired hospitals have demonstrated better outcomes in four key areas — infrastructure, business and administrative management, clinical quality and safety and clinical integration. Only six hospitals in Connecticut received the Most Wired designation.

"Yale New Haven Health System is wrapping up implementation of a $290 million electronic medical record which is giving incredible data and clinical insight to the physicians and nurses who practice at our hospitals," said Daniel Barchi, senior vice president, information systems, Yale New Haven Health. "Technology is advancing our care, knowledge and research and I am happy that Greenwich Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital have been recognized again with the Most Wired award."

In addition to the implementation of the Epic electronic medical record, other technology-related improvements at YNHHS include:

• Growing use of remote monitoring for disease and case management such as telestroke and telepharmacy programs — in which physicians, nurses and pharmacists are able to prescribe, supervise chemotherapy administration, diagnose and treat patients from the main hospital to other sites in Connecticut.
• Enhanced access to real-time clinical information which has reduced errors and eliminated duplication.

The majority of Most Wired hospitals rely on information technology to enhance hospital efficiency and improve patient safety and information security. Ninety-three percent of Most Wired hospitals use enhanced detection systems to secure patient privacy and patient data. Ninety percent of Most Wired hospitals use performance improvement scorecards to help reduce inefficiencies and 100 percent of Most Wired hospitals check drug interactions and drug allergies when medications are ordered as a major step in reducing medication errors. Seventy-four percent of Most Wired hospitals use automated patient flow systems. Nearly one half of Most Wired hospitals utilize social media for community outreach, news and crisis communication. YNHHS has robust Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, You Tube and RSS feed sites.

Hospitals and Health Networks polls the nation's hospitals on the use of information technology, based on responses from 662 hospitals and health systems that completed the survey, representing 1,570 hospitals.