What You Should Know:
– New York state Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a $218M initiative to build a new electronic health record (EHR) system for the state’s 24 inpatient psychiatric centers and over 300 outpatient programs.
– The funding has been awarded to Oracle Health to create a comprehensive, statewide EHR system that will improve the continuity of patient care, enhance evidence-based decision-making for clinicians, and boost the overall efficiency of treatment delivery.
A Single, Integrated Platform for Better Care
The new system will fully integrate records between all facilities and programs under the Office of Mental Health (OMH). This will allow information to be shared easily and efficiently, which is a significant improvement over the dozens of legacy systems, some more than two decades old, currently in use. With all patient information available in a single application, the new platform will standardize and improve data quality, enhance patient information security, and bolster overall efficiency.
The streamlined workflows are also expected to reduce administrative burdens on staff, allowing them to focus more on patient care. According to Dr. Ann Sullivan, OMH Commissioner, the new system will ensure that healthcare professionals have access to the tools and resources they need to deliver exceptional care across diverse settings, from inpatient facilities to outpatient programs.
Implementation and Future Vision
The new EHR system, which will support approximately 12,000 users, is expected to take about 29 months to implement statewide. The system will accommodate both clinical and business functions for a wide range of services, including clinics, day treatment programs, and residential services.
“Health records are a central component that help guide mental health treatment and ensure those who rely on our psychiatric centers and programs are receiving the best possible care,” Governor Hochul said. “Once completed, this new electronic health records system will markedly improve the patient experience, bolster efficiency, reduce administrative burdens and help our clinicians focus on delivering high-quality care.”
