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Memorial Hermann Named a “Most Wired” Healthcare System for Second Consecutive Year

Houston, Texas –Advances in electronic medical records and online patient information resources earned Memorial Hermann recognition as one of the country’s “100 Most Wired” healthcare systems for the second year in a row. The 2006 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study was released today in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.
          

“We have dedicated tremendous effort and resources to information systems over the past several years, and we are honored to receive this recognition,” said Chief Information Officer David Bradshaw. “But the real reward comes when a doctor says our technology has improved patient care, or when a radiology director tells me it has reduced turnaround time for CT scans.”

In the past year, Memorial Hermann installed speech-recognition software to eliminate time-consuming transcription of notes dictated by radiologists reading CTs, X-rays and other imaging studies. As a result, physicians receive test reports in 10 hours or less.

In another technological accomplishment, Memorial Hermann established a system for scanning barcodes on patient identification bracelets before administering medications to prevent errors, Bradshaw noted.

In announcing the winners, Hospitals and Health Networks noted that the nation’s 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems are helping consumers take charge of their healthcare by providing more tools via the Internet. According to survey results, for example, 49 percent of Most Wired hospitals allow patients to pre-register for services. Memorial Hermann patients may schedule tests or appointments through links on www.memorialhermann.org.

“Consumers are doing everything from booking travel to managing their finances from their living rooms. The Most Wired hospitals provide the same opportunities with healthcare,” said Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association (AHA). “This will become the new house call.”

The nation’s 100 Most Wired are using information technology to improve quality, satisfaction and patient care by investing in technology to streamline business and clinical practices, to reduce medical errors, and to improve clinical outcomes. Like Memorial Hermann, 99 percent of the Most Wired hospitals provide digital radiology images in the hospital inpatient setting, compared with 72 percent of the Least Wired hospitals (defined as the 100 hospitals scoring lowest on the survey).

The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use of information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues. Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2006 survey in cooperation with Accenture, McKesson Corp. and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

For more information, contact Media Relations.