King: IT directly helps doctors address diabetes epidemic
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Healthcare has earned its third consecutive Health Care’s Most Wired designation from Hospital & Health Networks magazine. The prestigious annual list recognizes health providers using the most advanced information technology available to deliver excellent care.
"The capabilities of our electronic medical records allow all of the caregivers at WVU Healthcare to have instant access to patients’ health history,” Matthew Loos, M.D., vice president of medical affairs at WVU Healthcare. “That access is available at any of our facilities and assists us in providing the safest care possible."
“Electronic medical records are driving the care provided by identifying gaps in care and helping us close them, ensuring all of our patients receive the most appropriate care,” said Rich King, WVU Healthcare vice president and chief information officer.
“Smart use of information technology is helping us directly attack serious public health issues in our state,” King continued.
One way WVU Healthcare is improving care is by using electronic medical records to track diabetes patients, many of whom are not controlling the disease and in some cases, are unaware that they are at risk of becoming diabetic.
“We began measuring and reporting our compliance for certain tests,” King explained. “We categorized the information by department, by provider and even by patient. This allowed us to identify diabetic patients at the time of visit and inform the provider of the need for updated tests.”
Health Care’s Most Wired status is earned by a high level of achievement in four key areas: clinical quality and safety, care continuum, infrastructure and business and administrative management. The hospitals selected are recognized as true leaders in meaningful use of technology – as information systems improve, so do patient outcomes.
Also appearing on the publication’s 2013 lists was United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, which was named among the year’s Most Improved. UHC is also part of the West Virginia United Health System.
“These dual honors are evidence that our advanced use of IT is a system-wide priority,” said King.
The results of the annual Most Wired survey were released today in the current issue of “Hospitals & Health Networks,” the journal of the American Hospital Association.
For more information on the Most Wired lists, see www.hhnmostwired.com.
To learn more about WVU Healthcare, visit www.wvuhealthcare.com.