Methodist again recognized as a Most Wired hospital 

 Methodist Medical Center has been recognized as one of the nation’s Most Wired, according to the results of the 2012 Most Wired Survey released today in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.

The nation's Most Wired hospitals are leveraging the adoption and use of health information technology (IT) to improve performance in a number of areas, according to Health Care's Most Wired 2012 Survey released today. As a field, hospitals are focused on expanding and adopting IT that protects patient data, and optimizes patient flow and communications.

"Methodist continues to use information technology to deliver excellent, reliable care to patients," says Dr. Keith Knepp, Chief Medical Information Officer for Methodist.  "Our systems help us provide the right care to each patient, and do so in a way that is safe and efficient. We're pleased to be recognized again in 2012 as a Most Wired hospital."

Among the key findings this year:  

• Ninety-three percent of Most Wired hospitals employ intrusion detection systems to protect patient privacy and security of patient data, in comparison to seventy-seven percent of the total responders.  
• Seventy-four percent of Most Wired hospitals and fifty-seven percent of all surveyed hospitals use automated patient flow systems.
• Ninety percent of Most Wired hospitals and seventy three percent of all surveyed use performance improvement scorecards to help reduce inefficiencies.
• One hundred percent of Most Wired hospitals check drug interactions and drug allergies when medications are ordered as a major step in reducing medication errors.

"As shown by these survey results, hospitals continue to demonstrate how IT not only can be used to improve patient care and safety but it is also a means to improve efficiency," says Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the AHA. "Hospitals receiving Most Wired recognition are truly representative of our nation's hospitals and systems – rural and urban, small and large, teaching and non-teaching, and critical access hospitals geographically dispersed."

"Equipping caregivers with the information needed to drive quality, safety and efficiency will continue to be an imperative as the challenges facing health systems grow increasingly complex," says Pat Blake, president, McKesson Technology Solutions. "The effective use of health IT, including actionable analytics and connectivity, can be a strategic lever as hospitals and health systems work to drive better outcomes while managing capacity, reducing costs, and coordinating care across multiple settings and caregivers."

Of note, social media is catching on among the Most Wired hospitals for crisis communications, nearly one half compared with one-third of total responders use this media. More than 25 percent offer care management messages and chats with physicians.

Health Care's Most Wired Survey, conducted between Jan. 15 and March 15, asked hospitals and health systems nationwide to answer questions regarding their IT initiatives. Respondents completed 662 surveys, representing 1,570 hospitals, or roughly 27 percent of all U.S. hospitals.

The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

About the Most Wired Survey

The 2012 Most Wired Survey is conducted in cooperation with McKesson Corporation, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), and the American Hospital Association.

About Methodist Medical Center

Methodist Medical Center includes a 330-bed facility with almost 600 board-certified physicians and Methodist North, a new, state-of-the-art outpatient and imaging center. Founded in 1900, Methodist today is a senior affiliate of Iowa Health System. Services at Methodist include an Emergency/Trauma Center, a nationally recognized heart program, state-of-the-art diagnostics, robotic surgery, comprehensive cancer care, and the area's most comprehensive behavioral health services