Lancaster General Health Physicians, a network of more than 300 family doctors and specialists, was awarded the highest level of implementation and adoption of an advanced patient electronic medical record from HIMSS Analytics. LG Health is the first health system in Pennsylvania and in the top one percent in the country to achieve this recognition for both its hospital and physician practices. Lancaster General Hospital received the acute care Stage 7 award in 2013.
The Stage 7 Award, the highest granted by Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics, was independently validated during a December 15 site visit to LG Health Physicians. HIMSS measures and evaluates the progress and impact of electronic medical records (EMR) systems for hospitals and ambulatory locations in the HIMSS Analytics™ Database. The physician practices will be recognized during the 2015 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition from April 12 to 16 in Chicago.
“This award represents the dedication and teamwork of our physicians and employees to transform healthcare. We believe that the successful transition to electronic records in our hospitals and practices sets the foundation for population health,” said Thomas E. Beeman, PhD, LG Health President & CEO. “Stage 7 affirms our strong commitment to patient safety, quality of care, process improvements, and technologies enabling us accomplish these goals.”
In 2005, HIMSS Analytics launched the EMR Adoption ModelSM (EMRAM) to track adoption of EMR applications. The EMRAM scores hospitals and physician practices in the HIMSS Analytics™ Database on their progress in completing 8 stages (0-7), with the goal of reaching Stage 7.
Stage 7 sites deliver patient care in a paperless environment, sharing patient information via secure electronic transaction with other care providers. These sites use their vast database of clinical information to drive improved care delivery, patient safety clinical decision support, and outcomes using business intelligence solutions; and are best practice examples of how to implement sophisticated EMR environments to provide clinicians with advanced information for better decision making and patient care.
“LGHealth’s streamlined enterprise governance strategy has allowed them to optimize their EMR use and helped to galvanize community physicians. Their highly collaborative approach has enabled many information exchange activities to enhance their population health initiatives,” said John Daniels, CNM, FACHE, FHIMSS, CPHIMS Vice President, Strategic Relations, HIMSS North America. “They are definitely focused on their mission to advance the health and well-being of the communities they serve.”
LG Health uses a single integrated electronic record from Epic, which allows caregivers fast, online access to vital data about their patients and provides patients information about their health whenever they need it. The secure online portal, MyLGHealth.org, offers patients a convenient way to contact their doctor’s office, view test results, refill medications and schedule appointments.
About Lancaster General Health
Lancaster General Health (LG Health) is a 631-licensed bed not-for-profit health system with a comprehensive network of care encompassing Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) and Women & Babies Hospital, including a Level III-B Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Outpatient services are provided at the Downtown and Suburban Outpatient Pavilions, along with additional Outpatient Centers and Express and Urgent Care locations throughout the region. Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences is a private, co-educational, Middle States-accredited four-year college offering a variety of associate and baccalaureate degree and certification programs in healthcare.
Other system organizations include: Affilia Home Health; Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital, in partnership with Centerre-Healthcare; Horizon Healthcare Services; and Lancaster General Health Physicians, comprised of nearly 300 family doctors and specialists and more than 40 offices throughout the area.
Designated a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence, LGH has been recognized regionally and nationally for clinical excellence and patient safety; and ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best hospitals for 2013-14 and 2014-15 in four specialties.
As a member of the Penn Cancer Network, LG Health has access to the vast research and technological resources of one of the nation’s foremost cancer institutes.
About HIMSS Analytics
HIMSS Analytics collects, analyzes and distributes essential health IT data related to products, costs, metrics, trends and purchase decisions. It delivers quality data and analytical expertise to healthcare delivery organizations, IT companies, governmental entities, financial, pharmaceutical and consulting companies. Visit www.himssanalytics.org.
HIMSS Analytics is a part of HIMSS WorldWide, a cause-based, global enterprise that produces health IT thought leadership, education, events, market research and media services around the world. Founded in 1961, HIMSS WorldWide encompasses more than 52,000 individuals, of which more than two-thirds work in healthcare provider, governmental and not-for-1profit organizations across the globe, plus over 600 corporations and 250 not-for-profit partner organizations, that share the cause of transforming health and healthcare through the best use of IT. HIMSS WorldWide, headquartered in Chicago, serves the global health IT community with additional offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
