HIMSS Analytics awarded Sutter Health’s Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, Calif. with a Stage 7 Award, and its Palo Alto Medical Foundation clinics throughout the Bay Area with Stage 7 Ambulatory Awards.
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.
During the fourth quarter of 2014, only 3.6 percent of the more than 5,400 U.S. hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics® Database received the Stage 7 Award, and only 6.21 percent of the more than 30,000 ambulatory clinics in the HIMSS Analytics® Database received the Stage 7 Ambulatory Award.
“This Stage 7 recognition from HIMSS Analytics serves as testament to the hard work and commitment of our dedicated physicians, nurses, clinicians, allied health professionals and information services staff. It is both acknowledgement and validation of our continuing commitment to provide the safest, highest quality care and comfort to those we serve,” said Jon Manis, senior vice president and chief information officer, Sutter Health.
Serving patients and their families in more than 100 Northern California cities and towns, Sutter Health doctors, not-for-profit hospitals and other health care service providers share resources and expertise to advance health care quality and access. The Sutter Medical Network includes many of California’s top-performing, highest-quality physician organizations as measured annually by the Integrated Healthcare Association. Sutter-affiliated hospitals are regional leaders in cardiac care, women’s and children’s services, cancer care, orthopedics and advanced patient-safety technology.
“Sutter Health’s EHR implementation is a star example for California and the west coast. The health care network expertly involves its medical staff to drive clinical transformation across its hospitals and care centers—all enabled by a comprehensive EHR system. Its care centers consistently use the EHR technology, showing strong system governance and well-delivered education,” said John P. Hoyt, FACHE, FHIMSS, executive vice president, HIMSS Analytics.
Sutter Health will be recognized at the 2015 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition on April 12-16, 2015, in Chicago, Ill.
