STAMFORD, CT/December 5, 2018 – The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) recognized Stamford Health as one of HealthCare’s Most Wired 2018 hospitals and systems, signifying the independent healthcare system as a leader in information technology (IT). Stamford Health is only one of seven Connecticut hospitals, out of 254 organizations nationwide, to receive this award.
CHIME, the professional organization for chief information officers and other healthcare IT leaders, awards the Most Wired recognition to hospitals and health systems that use healthcare information technology to improve the delivery of care to patients. More than 640 surveys from over 2,100 hospitals were submitted to CHIME for consideration, outlining specific IT capabilities including interoperability, information security and patient engagement.
“This award highlights our dedication to incorporating leading edge technologies in order to deliver transparent and high quality care for our patients,” said Steven Sakovits, Vice President, Information Services & Chief Information Officer at Stamford Health. “Information Services works closely with our physicians, nurses and leadership teams to expand our IT capabilities that also support the patient experience, such as our mobile apps that enable online appointment scheduling, patient portals and patient kiosks.”
HealthCare’s Most Wired, now in its 20th year, traditionally tracked the adoption of healthcare IT in hospitals and health systems. CHIME took over the Most Wired program from the American Hospital Association (AHA) and revised the survey questions and methodology to highlight strengths and gaps in the industry. The goal was to identify best practices and promote the strategic use of healthcare IT to elevate the health and care of communities around the world. CHIME looked closely at key emerging technology trends: a focus on integration, security, and recovery; and the use of technology to support health management, value-based care, patient engagement, and telehealth.
“At CHIME, we believe that sharing best practices nationally and globally across the healthcare IT industry will improve patient safety and outcomes everywhere,” said CHIME President and CEO Russell Branzell. “Most Wired will help us achieve that goal, and more.”
This year’s survey results were divided into two categories: foundational technologies and transformational technologies.
Foundational technologies
- 94 percent of participants used integrated clinical application suites and 86 percent used remote published applications.
- About three-fourths send blood glucose, bedside blood pressure, bedside pulse oximetry and EKG data directly to the EHR but only 25 percent send data directly from IV pumps and 10 percent from in-bed scale.
- Almost all physicians have electronic access to the EHR and other resources but only half have access to these resources using mobile applications.
- 94 percent can consume data in some form from a Continuity of Care Document (CCD) and 97 percent can contribute to a CCD but only 60 percent can consume discrete data with a home health agency or a skilled nursing home.
- Only 29 percent report having a comprehensive security program in place.
- Nearly all use firewalls, dispose devices containing personal health information properly and secure mobile devices with passwords but many lack other fundamental authentication and safeguarding procedures.
- 68 percent believe they could restore operations within 24 hours if a disaster caused complete loss of their primary data center.
Transformational technologies
- 76 percent can perform retroactive analysis for care improvement and cost reduction but only 43 percent can manage bundled payments or do real-time identification and tracking of value-based care conditions.
- 57 percent use clinical and billing data as well as health information exchanges to identify gaps in care.
- Most provider organizations’ population health strategies target diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, heart disease and hypertension but few target behavioral health, sickle cell anemia and end-stage renal disease.
- For patient engagement, 81 percent report capabilities like email and more than half offer satisfaction surveys; 67 percent offer secure email exchange with a member of home care team and 38 percent offer virtual patient visits.
- Most offer conveniences such as requesting a prescription renewal or paying a bill through a patient portal; 90 percent offer a mobile patient portal; and nearly all offer access to test results and visit summaries.
- 89 percent offer some form of telehealth service, but few offer focused telehealth services such as genetic counseling or rehabilitation.
- About half use ePrescribing for controlled substances and 48 percent have their ePrescribing module connected to a prescription drug monitoring program.
Stamford Health was also honored with the Most Wired award in 2017, when it was designated by the AHA.
About Stamford Health
Stamford Health is a non-profit independent healthcare system with more than 3,500 employees committed to compassionately caring for the community and offering a wide-range of high-quality health and wellness services. Patients and their families can rely on comprehensive person-centered care through the system’s 305-bed Stamford Hospital; Stamford Health Medical Group, with more than 30 offices in lower Fairfield County offering primary and specialty care; a growing number of ambulatory locations across the region; and support through the Stamford Hospital Foundation. Stamford Health is also a major teaching affiliate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dedicated to being the community’s most trusted healthcare partner, Stamford Health puts patients first to build long-lasting relationships. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
About CHIME
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers (CIOs), chief medical information officers (CMIOs), chief nursing information officers (CNIOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 2,800 members in 51 countries and over 150 healthcare IT business partners and professional services firms, CHIME provides a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate; exchange best practices; address professional development needs; and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and healthcare in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.