by Jasmine Pennic
The HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 award honors hospitals operating in a paperless environment and representing best practices in implementing EMR
HIMSS Analytics recognized the two hospitals the Naples Community Hospital (NCH) Healthcare System, in Naples, Fla., with its Stage 7 Award. The award represents attainment of the highest level on the Electronic Medical Records Adoption Modelâ� (EMRAM), which tracks EMR progress at hospitals and health systems.
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.
“The NCH Healthcare System is honored to be designated as a HIMSS Stage 7 health system,” said Phil Dutcher, COO, NCH Healthcare System. “We recognize that this achievement places us in the company of other leading healthcare systems that have also demonstrated that the effective use of advanced information technology materially improves the delivery of care for patients.”
During the second quarter of 2014, 3.2 percent, of the more than 5,400 U.S. hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics® Database, received the HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 Award.
The NCH Healthcare System is a not-for-profit, multi-facility healthcare system. It includes two hospitals (referred to as the NCH Downtown Naples Hospital, and NCH North Naples Hospital) with a total of 716 beds. The NCH Healthcare System is an alliance of 636 physicians and medical facilities in dozens of locations throughout Collier County and southwest Florida.
“NCH Healthcare System is a top tier example of healthcare technology at work for the entire patient experience,” said John P. Hoyt, FACHE, FHIMSS, executive vice president, HIMSS Analytics. “From a comprehensive electronic medical record that has assisted in improving quality, safety and efficiency, to a complete ’smart room’ concept that has helped improve patient and employee satisfaction, NCH is an example of where inpatient care is heading in the future.”
NCH Healthcare System will be recognized at the 2015 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition on April 12-16, 2015, in Chicago, Ill. Visit the HIMSS Analytics web site for more information on the Stage 7 award.
