As technology marches forward everywhere, the world of health care is no exception. Increasingly, the days of simple paper charts are over, as hospitals embrace new ways to increase efficiency while improving care and patient experience. Patients can talk to doctors in real time over the Internet, prescriptions can be sent to pharmacies instantaneously and physicians can even chime in on surgeries when not in the operating room.
For 19 years, Hospitals & Health Networks has named the “Most Wired” hospitals and health systems, which is based on annual surveys conducted by the American Hospital Association (AHA). The survey and benchmarking study is a leading industry barometer, measuring information technology use and adoption among hospitals nationwide.
This year, all three major Hampton Roads health systems – Bon Secours Health System, Bon Secours Health System and Sentara Healthcare – were recognized among the nation’s most wired.
The designation recognizes hospitals and health systems that rely on increased clinical capabilities, telehealth and mobile technology. According to the AHA, many organizations have shifted their focus from acquisition of technology to integrating tech into strategies to “improve population health, capitalize on data analytics, boost patient engagement and introduce new efficiencies.”
The three Hampton Roads health systems were among nine hospitals or health systems in Virginia to be recognized. The 2017 survey represents an estimated 2,158 hospitals – more than 39 percent of all hospitals in the United States.
“For over a decade, Bon Secours has enthusiastically embraced information technology to improve the quality and safety of patient care,” says Laishy Williams-Carlson, chief information officer for Bon Secours Health System. “Our sophisticated information systems have also facilitated a streamlined patient and caregiver experience.”
The results of the survey come as health organizations are moving away from fee-for-service models to value-based health care, in which reimbursement for medical services is based on quality and outcomes. In other words, doctors are paid to keep people healthy, not to see more patients, do more procedures or order more tests.
Bon Secours has positioned itself to navigate through the changing landscape of health care by identifying best practices, says Dr. P. Marlene Capps, the chief medical officer for Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News.
“It really speaks to the work the organization has done to meet the changes in health care and stay at the leading edge of technology,” Capps says. “If you’re not moving ahead, you’re falling behind. To know we’re meeting that mark feels good.”
Riverside, which started its first electronic medical record system in 1996 and recently introduced a new, more comprehensive platform, received “Most Wired” status for the 13th time.
“We’ve always made technology a priority when it comes to better serving our patients,” says Dennis Loftus, Riverside’s chief information officer.
According to the AHA survey, “Most Wired” hospitals are using smart phones, telehealth and remote monitoring to create more ways for patients to access services and capture information.
This year’s results show:
- 76 percent offer secure messaging with clinicians on mobile devices.
- 74 percent of patients needing ongoing monitoring at home use secure emails to keep in touch with the care team.
- 68 percent let patients make prescription renewal requests on mobile devices.
- 62 percent add data reported by patients to electronic health records.
- Nearly half of the hospitals use telehealth to provide behavioral health services to more patients.
- 40 percent offer virtual physician visits.
- More than 40 percent provide real-time care management services to patients at home for diabetes and congestive heart failure.
Telemedicine in particular has made huge strides over the past several years. Bon Secours’ 24/7 program allows patients to call a 24-hour hotline for nonemergency medical conditions to get assistance from health care professionals. In addition, the hospitals use telemedicine for neuro and behavioral medicine consultations, as well as in a home health program to remotely monitor patients.
At Sentara, a similar 24/7 program is called Sentara MDLIVE. Riverside uses Riverside Virtual Visits.
“We’re really putting the care where the patients need it in real time,” Capps says. “We need to be more efficient in how we deliver that care. A part of health care stewardship is leveraging that care and getting the right health care to the right person at the right moment.”
All three Hampton Roads hospital systems use MyChart, a patient portal that allows patients to request appointments, view lab tests and send messages to physicians. Clinical teams use various tools on iPads when making rounds. Sentara uses a robot that doctors attach an iPad to in order to visit patients from their offices or even homes.
Large health systems and many larger practices that use electronic health records are even able to interface with other hospitals because they use the same language and software. Sophisticated information technology monitoring systems detect patient privacy breaches, monitor for malicious activities or policy violations and produce real-time analysis of security alerts. “Most Wired” hospitals are also investing in systems that help analyze data to improve quality, provide access and control costs.
Technology is ever-changing, and hospitals are working hard to keep up.
“We don’t even know what it’ll look like in five or 10 years,” Capps says. “That’s when you have to commend your organization for keeping their eyes open and knowing where we need to go. You cannot underestimate the power of connectivity. How can we not keep up?”
