Scott & White Health has been honored by the American Hospital Association for being among the "Most Improved" U.S. health care systems in use of information technology.
The designation is part of the "Most Wired" list published annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. The Hospitals & Health Networks methodology sets requirements on advanced capabilities in four focus areas: clinical quality and safety, clinical integration, business and administrative management and infrastructure.
Matthew Chambers, chief information officer of Baylor Scott & White Health, said the Central Texas division has excelled through more than half of a five-year strategy for standardizing its electronic health records (EHR) across its system. Not only has the new EHR platform enabled their goal of "one patient, one record," it includes creation of mobile applications for patient access to their health records and making physician appointments.
Chambers said, "We're honored to be recognized for our commitment to improving patient care and for providing secure, integrated medical records. We're helping our providers to change the face of American health care through the use of patient-centered, consumer-driven technology."
The system's Round Rock hospital, Taylor hospital and College Station hospital won the HIMSS Analytics' Stage 7 award in 2013, placing them in the top 2% of acute care facilities in the nation for electronic medical record adoption, meaning those facilities are paperless and have advanced data analytics capabilities. Twenty-three clinics in the Round Rock and College Station regions are the only ones in Texas awarded the HIMSS Stage 7 Ambulatory designation.
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About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com