March 07, 2003

Getting Wired

Cerner System Debuts At Illini Hospital And Genesis Medical Center

Davenport, IA - Patient caregivers at Illini Hospital and Genesis Medical Center (GMC) are making a major conversion to a new clinical information system that ultimately will reduce paperwork, streamline procedures and put vital patient information more conveniently at their fingertips.

The new integrated clinical information system, by Cerner Corp. of Kansas City, MO., exemplifies a growing trend in health care. More and more, hospitals across the nation rely on information technology to help them better manage patient care amid an increasingly complex health care landscape.

The new Cerner system is replacing current computerized order entry systems at Illini and GMC. "Any staff member who cares for patients will be positively affected by this," says Kathy Johnson, I.T. Analyst, and team leader for the Cerner implementation.

Among Cerner's features will be on-line clinical documentation. This will allow nurses and other caregivers to document patient information in real time by entering patient care information into a computer system -- rather than writing it manually. In addition to nursing documentation, information available on-line will include lab results, radiology results and respiratory therapy information. Up until now, most of this is done on paper and entered into the computer chart later.

Information entered by one department within the hospital can also be accessed by other departments that have security clearance. It's entered one time and doesn't have to be faxed or rewritten on another piece of paper. "For example, when the patient's weight or allergies is initially entered, it automatically goes to Pharmacy," Johnson says.

Computers placed in wall-mounted units or situated on wireless mobile carts are becoming more a part of the hospital landscape, as well. "More and more hospitals are doing this," Johnson says. "This allows the caregiver to capture the clinical information at the point-of-care. Not only is this process more efficient, it reduces potential issues with legibility, which ultimately improves patient care and safety."

"We have been building the foundation of a solid and extensive electronic medical record system over the years," says Dr. Bakkiam Subbiah, I.T., Medical Director. "The various systems have functioned primarily as standalone systems serving departmental needs. Much more is to come, and we are very excited to say the least."

Ultimately, Cerner will more effectively capture and leverage information to help maximize productivity and minimize patient risk, pushing the standard of care higher and keeping the focus where it belongs - on the patients.

Illini Hospital successfully converted to the Cerner system in January. Genesis Medical Center will follow later this month.

Other new technology also pushing the standard of care to new heights at GMC includes the translogic tube system, which allows the pharmacy to deliver prescribed medications in a more timely and efficient manner.

The system is much like those used at area financial institutions for the drive-up tellers. It consists of a network of pneumatic tubes in which delivery capsules will carry medications from the pharmacy to the patient care units. The system will eliminate the need for pharmacy technicians to hand-deliver nearly 2,000 medication orders each day, so they can assume more productive duties currently being done by pharmacists. Pharmacists will then be freed up to meet with patients, doctors and nurses in the patient care units, ensuring prescribed medications are appropriate and cost-effective.

Installation of the translogic tube system is underway at West campus, where use will begin in May. Work at the East campus will begin soon and is expected to be completed this summer. The system also will be used to transport patient laboratory specimens.

The implementation of new technology is just one of the many ways Genesis Health System is addressing the growing health care needs of the community while meeting our growing technology demands that enables our health care professionals to provide quality and compassionate care to all those in need.