Lakeland Achieves Electronic Health Record Milestone
Feb 13, 2014
First in State of Michigan to be Recognized for Digital Excellence
(ST. JOSEPH) – Four hospitals and three ambulatory clinics at Lakeland Health are the first healthcare organizations in the state of Michigan, as well as in the region, to be certified at Stage 7 by HIMSS Analytics. HIMSS Analytics is a wholly-owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). This accomplishment was achieved in less than three years from the time the electronic health record was first implemented at Lakeland. The clinics are Southwestern Medical Clinic in Stevensville, Lakeland Diabetes & Endocrinology in St. Joseph, and the Lakeland Center for Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine in Niles.
“The investment in an electronic health record (EHR) is an important part of Lakeland’s commitment to provide exemplary service and outcomes at a competitive cost,” said Loren B. Hamel, MD, president and CEO, Lakeland Healthcare. “The additional technology has already helped our caregivers to improve communication, to reduce costs, and to save lives.”
During the beginning of the third quarter of 2013, 2.2 percent, of the more than 5,400 U.S. hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics® Database, received the HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 Award, and as of the second fiscal quarter of 2013, only 1.23 percent of the more than 20,000 U.S. ambulatory clinics in the HIMSS Analytics® Database, received the Stage 7 Ambulatory Award.
"Utilizing our EHR at HIMSS Stage 7 means we are maximizing the benefits of the system to provide better care,” said Norma Tirado, Vice President of Human Resources & Health Information Management, Lakeland HealthCare. “At Lakeland we have a team that is laser-focused in producing better patient outcomes; they would not accept anything less."
Lakeland HealthCare was recognized at the 2014 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition on February 24-26, 2014, in Orlando, Fla.
“Lakeland HealthCare has a thorough deployment of their EMR [electronic medical record] to enable a new level of care coordination throughout their service area,” said John P. Hoyt, FACHE, FHIMSS, Executive Vice President, HIMSS Analytics. “Their EMR deployment has significantly improved medication safety and has enabled their case management program which has reduced preventable readmissions through proactive identification of vulnerable patients.”
Stage 7 Award: HIMSS Analytics developed the EMR Adoption Model in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics™ Database. There are eight stages (0-7) that measure a hospital’s implementation and utilization of information technology applications. The final stage, Stage 7, represents an advanced patient record environment. The validation process to confirm a hospital has reached Stage 7 includes a site visit by an executive from HIMSS Analytics and former or current chief information officers to ensure an unbiased evaluation of the Stage 7 environments.
Stage 7 Ambulatory Award: Developed in 2011, the EMR Ambulatory Adoption Model provides a methodology for evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for ambulatory facilities owned by hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics™ Database. These facilities include physician practices, clinics, outpatient centers and specialty clinics. Tracking their progress in completing eight stages (0-7), ambulatory facilities can review the implementation and use of IT applications with the intent of reaching Stage 7, which represents an advanced electronic patient record environment.
About HIMSS Analytics
HIMSS Analytics collects, analyzes and distributes essential health IT data related to products, costs, metrics, trends and purchase decisions. It delivers quality data and analytical expertise to healthcare delivery organizations, IT companies, governmental entities, financial, pharmaceutical and consulting companies. Visit www.himssanalytics.org.
HIMSS Analytics is a part of HIMSS WorldWide, a cause-based, global enterprise that produces health IT thought leadership, education, events, market research and media services around the world. Founded in 1961, HIMSS WorldWide encompasses more than 52,000 individuals, of which more than two-thirds work in healthcare provider, governmental and not-for-1profit organizations across the globe, plus over 600 corporations and 250 not-for-profit partner organizations, that share the cause of transforming health and healthcare through the best use of IT. HIMSS WorldWide, headquartered in Chicago, serves the global health IT community with additional offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia.