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VALLEY BAPTIST INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE TO HELP
TRANSFORM HEALTH CARE IN THE VALLEY; WILL BENEFIT PATIENTS,
DOCTORS, COMMUNITY
Harlingen --A state-of-the-art information technology
initiative at Valley Baptist Health System represents the
beginning of a transformation in the way health care is
practiced in the Rio Grande Valley, and will benefit patients
through higher quality care, greater patient safety,
convenience, and easier access to health care and health
information.
The Information Management for Physician and Patient Access with
Clinical Transformation (IMPPACT) initiative at Valley Baptist
will save time for patients, doctors and nurses, while
simplifying many day-to-day processes in the health care field.
For example, once installation of the GE Centricity Enterprise
system is complete, patients will no longer have to wait for
their file to be located -- or for a hand-written prescription
to be read.
“This initiative is about evidence-based medicine, integration,
and easier access to healthcare and information,” said James G.
Springfield, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Valley Baptist Health System. “We will transform the clinical
processes at Valley Baptist. Our goal is to provide the highest
quality patient services in a seamless and transparent manner.”
The multi-million dollar initiative is being completed in phases
throughout Valley Baptist Health System.
James M. Barbaglia, Senior Vice President and Chief Information
Officer for Valley Baptist, said the initiative is part of a
“technology evolution” that marks a virtual revolution in health
care for Valley Baptist.
“This is a total re-engineering of the way we practice from the
clinical standpoint,” Mr. Barbaglia added. “We are making this
investment because we want to provide a greater service to the
community by providing greater patient safety and greater
technology.”
At VBMC-Harlingen, the Centricity Enterprise system will be a
major upgrade to the existing IDX “LastWord” system, which will
provide a complete, overall accurate picture of what’s been done
for the patient. The system will provide a greater level of
service to physicians, so that physicians will have more
information to use in making clinical decisions.
“This investment demonstrates Valley Baptist’s determination to
become even more committed to how we serve and care for our
patients,” said Jim Wesson, CEO for VBMC-Harlingen. “For
example, once a patient registers with any part of our health
system, their access and movement to other services within our
system will become faster and easier.”
Once installation of the new system is complete, the patient’s
physician will be able to view the patient’s medical record
instantly -- whether the patient is being treated at the
hospital in Brownsville or Harlingen -- or at the Valley Baptist
Family Practice Residency Clinic, through Valley Baptist’s
rehabilitation programs, or through other areas of the health
system. Physicians will be able to log into the system and pull
up their patient’s medical records -- without having to retrieve
paper files.
The system will also feature Computerized Physician Order Entry,
so when the physician orders lab work or tests, they will go
straight into the computerized system – and be activated more
quickly. Physicians can also view laboratory results on the
computer sooner, improving turnaround times and patient care.
“The Centricity Enterprise upgrade will provide the information
technology platform to successfully address the health care
goals of Valley Baptist,” said Dr. Darryl White, Chief Medical
Information Officer for Valley Baptist. “Improved applications
of the electronic medical record will help reduce medical
errors, improve use of standard care pathways, provide
point-of-care decisional support, and allow for enhanced
analysis and assessment of the care provided.”
Valley Baptist physicians will be able to access their patient’s
records from their office, their home, or even while traveling
in other countries, through any computer with Internet access --
as long as the physician has an authorized login name and
password, which are required to protect patient confidentiality.
By increasing efficiency in patient care -- and by improving
communication -- the project will free up physicians and other
caregivers to spend more “face-to-face” time caring for their
patients.
Making It Easier for Patients
The project also includes upgrades to Valley Baptist’s on-line
registration process, kiosks and a “Smart Card” system, which
allow patients to easily enter their registration information –
simply by swiping a card.
Electronic transmission of prescriptions will mean that the
doctor will be able to enter the prescription into the computer
and have it sent directly to participating pharmacies. The
patient will no longer have to hand-carry a written prescription
to the pharmacy and wait while it is being read and filled.
Once installation is finalized, a bar code medication charting
feature will serve as a double check that the right medicine is
being given to the right patient, at the right time, in the
right dose, and through the right route (such as orally or by
I.V.).
The project also includes the state-of-the-art Picis
applications for high acuity areas such as surgery, anesthesia
and critical care units. Picis incorporates “Quality Manager”
prompts to alert health care personnel of conditions that could
pose potential risks to patients. Other components of the
initiative include upgrades to the radiology information system
(ImageCast) and the Streamline Health application for better
document management of medical records and other documents via
an electronic format.
For more information on new health care technology and
improvements in services for patients in the Valley, please
visit www.ValleyBaptist.net.
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