(SPRINGFIELD, IL) – Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) has been named “Most Wired” by the 19th Annual Health Care’s Most Wired® survey, released today by the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Health Forum. The survey showed that technology is making it easier for patients and providers to interact. The investments hospitals and health systems, such as HSHS, have made in technology has been shown to improve communication, safety and patient-provider relationships. Furthermore, these new tools are helping patients become more actively involved in their care and maintaining their health.
HealthCare’s Most Wired® survey, conducted between Jan. 15 and March 15, 2017, is published annually by Health & Hospitals Networks (H&HN). The 2017 Most Wired® survey and benchmarking study is a leading industry barometer measuring information technology (IT) use and adoption among hospitals nationwide. The survey of 698 participants, representing an estimated 2,158 hospitals — more than 39 percent of all hospitals in the U.S. — examines how organizations are leveraging IT to improve performance for value-based health care in the areas of infrastructure, business and administrative management; quality and safety; and clinical integration. Health care organizations must meet specific requirements of each of these four areas to be named “Most Wired.”
“Our dedicated and knowledgeable IT team at HSHS has worked tirelessly to bring the most advanced technology to our hospitals and clinics for our patients,” Mary Starmann-Harrison, HSHS President and CEO, said. “We have successfully integrated technology into every part of our health system, from patient care to our administrative operations. I’m extremely proud of our IT team and for this recognition that they have deservedly earned.”
In recent years, HSHS has leveraged technology to give patients several treatment options, which is especially critical in small, rural communities when seconds count. For instance, the “tele-stroke care” program, available at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, provides quick access to neurology specialists that may be more than 100 miles away. In the first three years of the tele-stroke care program, more than 1,500 emergency room stroke patients in Illinois received the critical care they needed to recover from potentially life-threatening and debilitating strokes. HSHS technology initiatives also include virtual health care visits through the HSHS Medical Group’s Anytime Care 24/7 application, where patients can connect with providers in the comfort and privacy of their own home through their computer or mobile device.
In addition to telehealth technology, HSHS has taken measures to ensure the security of patient information through the use of intrusion detection systems, and is transforming care delivery with the knowledge gained from data and analytics.
“Our technology initiatives have really strived to focus on patient-centered and patient-first care,” Dr. Ray Gensinger, HSHS Chief Information Officer said. “Technology has enabled us to serve patients and deliver high-quality health care like never before. Our efforts are cost-effective and convenient for the patients, which is the top priority.”
Detailed results of the survey and study can be found in the July issue of H&HN. For a full list of winners, visit www.hhnmag.com.
For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit the hospitals’ web site at stanthonyshospital.org. Telemedicine services are provided at all the hospitals in the Southern Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which includes HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.
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About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our 15 Local Systems and physician practices in Illinois (Belleville, Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, Shelbyville, and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.
About the Most Wired Survey
The 2017 Most Wired Survey is conducted in cooperation with the American Hospital Association and Clearwater Compliance, LLC.
About the American Hospital Association
The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks and other providers of care. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit www.aha.org.
About Health Forum
Health Forum is a strategic business enterprise of the American Hospital Association, creatively partnering to develop and deliver essential information and innovative services to help health care leaders achieve organizational performance excellence and sustainability. For more information, visit www.healthforum.com.
About Clearwater Compliance, LLC | https://clearwatercompliance.com/
Clearwater Compliance, LLC is a leading provider of healthcare compliance and cyber risk management solutions. Its mission is to empower hospitals and health systems to successfully manage healthcare’s evolving cybersecurity risks and ensure patient safety. Exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association, Clearwater solutions have been deployed within hundreds of hospitals and health systems, Fortune 100 organizations and federal government institutions. More information about Clearwater Compliance is at http://www.Clearwatercompliance.com.