HIMSS Analytics awarded Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, N.D, with a Stage 7 Award, and 21 Altru Health System clinics located throughout North Dakota and Minnesota with Stage 7 Ambulatory Awards.
Stage 7 Award Overview
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 Background
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 third quarter of 2014, only 3.4 percent of the more than 5,400 U.S. hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics® Database received the Stage 7 Award, and only 4.37 percent of the more than 27,000 ambulatory clinics in the HIMSS Analytics® Database received the Stage 7 Ambulatory Award.
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“We think advanced electronic medical records are helping us provide the best care possible. The HIMSS Stage 7 designation is a very big milestone on that journey,” said Dave Molmen, CEO, Altru Health System.
Altru Health System is a community-owned, integrated system with an acute care hospital, a specialty hospital, more than a dozen clinics in Grand Forks and the region, a large home care network, and a congregate living facility. It employs more than 200 physicians and 4,000 staff. As the first member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, Altru’s providers have access to clinically integrated tools extending Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and expertise to patients.
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“Altru Health System demonstrated improved patient care through its innovative use of the EMR. Collaborating with two large health systems, Altru Health has integrated two different decision support tools with its EHR to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol for patients. These and other collaborative efforts demonstrate Altru’s commitment toward achieving its vision of delivering world-class healthcare to the community they serve,” said John H. Daniels, CNM, FACHE, FHIMSS, CPHIMS, vice president, strategic relations, HIMSS Analytics.
The Altru Health System will be recognized at the 2015 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition on April 12-16, 2015, in Chicago, Ill.
