EMMC one of top 100 ‘most wired’ hospitals

BANGOR – Eastern Maine Medical Center has been named to a list of the nation’s 100 Most Wired Hospitals.

The designation is based on results of the 2008 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study released this month by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.

The study evaluates hospitals’ progress in information technology, according to a hospital news release.

Last year, EMMC was recognized as one of the nation’s 25 most improved hospitals in the field of information technology in the same survey.

The 100 Most Wired hospitals show better outcomes in patient satisfaction, risk-adjusted mortality rates and other key quality measures through the use of information technology, according to a new analysis by Most Wired Survey, the release said.

“We have made a significant long-term commitment and investment to leverage the best and latest in information technology to better serve our patients, and this confirms we are among the leaders in the industry,” commented Deborah Carey Johnson, RN, president and CEO, in the press release. “It’s gratifying to be recognized for the work we’ve done.”

Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, said Most Wired hospitals “are proving the fundamental value of information technology.”

EMMC was one of 1,327 hospitals represented in the survey, roughly 22 percent of hospitals in the United States.

“We are pushing technology hard for the benefit of our patients,” said Dr. Eric Hartz, chief medical information officer at EMMC, in the hospital news release. “The end result is an integrated electronic ordering and documentation process that goes beyond simply recording activity. Our system is built to expect certain care protocols and orders, and it questions and reminds caregivers to perform at best practice levels.”