Heritage Valley Health System is one of the nation’s “Most Wired,”
according to a survey published by the American Hospital Association in the July
issue of Hospitals & Health Networks (H&HN) magazine. Heritage Valley
Health System is one of only three Pittsburgh-area health systems to achieve this
recognition this year.
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 680 surveys, representing
1,900 hospitals, or more than 30 percent of all U.S. hospitals.
“We
are honored to be recognized as a 2014 Most Wired Health System,” said David
Carleton, chief information officer at Heritage Valley Health System. “We
credit the foresight and vision of our board of directors who have made an annual
investment in information technology since 1998. We have always viewed Information
Technology as an enabler to help our physicians and caregivers serve our patients
in a quicker and more efficient manner.”
As the nation’s
health care system transitions to more integrated and patient-centered care, hospitals
are utilizing information technology to better connect disparate care providers,
according to the 16th annual Health Care’s Most Wired Survey, conducted
by Hospitals & Health Networks.
For instance, 67 percent
of Most Wired hospitals, including Heritage Valley Health System, share critical
patient information electronically with specialists and other care providers. In
fact, Heritage Valley as well as UPMC and St. Clair, the other two Pittsburgh-area
hospitals that were recognized, are all members of ClinicalConnect, the region’s
largest and most active health information exchange (HIE).
The Most
Wired hospitals and health systems meet a set of rigorous criteria across four operational
categories and have made tremendous gains by using IT to reduce the likelihood of
medical errors. Heritage Valley’s IT efforts have streamlined communication
of patient health information across all of the Health System’s providers
and locations.
“For example, if a patient is seen at a Heritage
Valley Medical Group ConvenientCare walk-in clinic, Heritage Valley Emergency
Department or in any of our diagnostic and lab draw locations, this information
is added to the patient’s electronic health record and shared with his or
her primary care physician,” added Mr. Carleton. “Furthermore,
by using Heritage Valley’s online Health Link portal, patients can access
their health records right from our website.”
“The Most
Wired data show that shared health information allows clinicians and patients to
have the information they need to promote health and make the most informed decisions
about treatments,” says Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American
Hospital Association. “Hospitals, their clinicians and their communities
are doing tremendous work to enhance their IT systems in ways that support care
and delivery improvement, and patient engagement goals.”
The
2014 Most Wired Survey also covered the evolution of new models and payment from
the IT perspective. As health care delivery moves to a value-based system, it will
require more and better use of data analytics, care coordination and population
health management.
The July H&HN cover story detailing
results is available at www.hhnmag.com.
About Heritage Valley Health System
Heritage Valley Health System is a $450 million integrated delivery network
providing comprehensive health care for residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and
Lawrence counties, in Pennsylvania; eastern Ohio; and the panhandle of West Virginia.
In partnership with 3,800 employees and more than 450 physicians, Heritage Valley
offers a broad range of medical, surgical and diagnostic services at its two hospitals,
Heritage Valley Sewickley and Heritage Valley Beaver; in 64 physician offices; and
14 community satellite facilities. For more information about Heritage Valley
Health System, please visit www.heritagevalley.org.
About
the AHA
The AHA is a nonprofit association of health care provider
organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their
communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes nearly
5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, and other providers of care. Founded
in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information
on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at
www.aha.org.
About
the Most Wired Survey
The 2014 Most Wired Survey is conducted
in cooperation with McKesson Corp., AT&T, the College of Healthcare Information
Management Executives, and the American Hospital Association.