McDonough District Hospital Named 2009 Most Improved In IT Most Wired Review

CHICAGO— McDonough District Hospital has been named to the nation’s Most Improved hospitals in the use of technology, according to the results of the 2009 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study released in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.

The current economy is forcing many hospitals to make tough decisions with scarce resources, including delaying and scaling down information technology (IT) projects, according to a newly released survey of America’s “most wired” hospitals and health systems.

“Our patients and health care providers deserve the best available technology we can provide within our hospital’s financial capability,” said Stephen Hopper, president/CEO of McDonough District Hospital. “The national survey recognizes the cooperative efforts of our MDH technology staff working with our clinical staff and physicians to prioritize technology enhancements of hospital services.”

Director of information systems Harlan Baker outlined changes in technology at MDH implemented within the past year, including Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) with bar coding to enhance patient safety; computer access to electronic medical records from throughout the hospital, physicians offices, and homes; access to Radiology Picture Archiving Computer System or PACS diagnostic imaging from the hospital and physicians offices; and installation of wireless internet for patients, families, and others visiting the hospital. The Most Wired Survey of recognized hospitals includes 10 Illinois facilities and only three from outside the Chicago metropolitan area.

Marking its 11^th year, the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study continues to lead the field in analyses and benchmarking of healthcare IT.  “The economic slowdown is forcing hospitals to look closely at IT spending,” says Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. “Most Wired hospitals are doing their best to stay the course.” 

 “As the health reform debate continues, it’s clear that IT will play an even more important role in the health system of tomorrow,” says Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA).  “Most Wired hospitals help illustrate IT in action—improving efficiency, quality and safety of care while helping to control costs.” 

Investment in electronic medication management is considered one of the fundamentals of using IT to improve care. The 2009 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study shows an overall increase in both medication order entries and electronic bedside matching at the time medications are administered.

Of the organizations completing the survey this year, 38 hospitals and health systems—6.8 percent of the sample—have effectively deployed information technology at both ends of the medication administration process. This compares with 23 hospitals and health systems in 2008, or 4.1 percent of the sample.

At the typical hospital responding to the survey, 26 percent of medications are entered electronically by physicians, compared with 19 percent in 2008. The typical respondent has 40 percent of medications matched at the bedside, compared with 30 percent in 2008.

The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, the journal of the AHA, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues.

Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2009 survey in cooperation with McKesson Corp. and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.