TEANECK, N.J., July 8, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Holy Name Medical Center has been recognized for its advanced technology with two national awards from the American Health Association Health Forum: 2016 Most Wired Innovator Award and a Most Wired hospital. Only three hospitals nationwide earned the Innovator award, which was given to Holy Name for its free hepatitis testing for eligible patients. Hospitals make the Most Wired list when they can show they are using information technology (IT) to improve healthcare performance in infrastructure, business and administrative management, quality and safety and clinical integration.
"This is important recognition for Holy Name, to be one of just three hospitals nationwide to receive this award," said Michael Maron, President and CEO, Holy Name Medical Center. "It affirms the hospital's commitment to developing innovative IT strategies, and real world solutions to improve the patient experience."
Holy Name's Hepatitis C FOCUS project was created to offer at-risk patients – those born between 1945 and 1965 and who come to the Emergency Department – free hepatitis C testing. To ensure this service is offered equally and efficiently to all eligible patients without duplicative testing or disruption to the Emergency Department's workflow, Holy Name's Information Technology Department automated the process as much as possible. Working within the medical center's self-developed Information System, known as WebHIS, software developers created processes to screen patients for eligibility, provide patients with hepatitis C education, link clinical documentation to laboratory orders, notify patients of test results and track follow-up communication for care.
"The technology and programming developed for the FOCUS project offers a more patient-friendly experience by providing information about Hepatitis C testing in the four most common languages of our population, as well as a worklist and process to document follow-up to care, ensuring no patient is left uninformed," said Michael Skvarenina, Chief Information Officer, Holy Name Medical Center. "New work is underway to provide automated tracking of mailed communications. All of these advances are possible because Holy Name self-develops its core information system and reacts to ever-changing needs without having to rely on vendor priorities or timetables."
About Holy Name Medical Center
Holy Name Medical Center is a fully accredited, not-for-profit healthcare facility based in Teaneck, New Jersey. Founded and sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in 1925, the comprehensive 361-bed medical center offers leading-edge medical practice and technology administered in an environment rooted in a tradition of compassion and respect for every patient. Holy Name provides high quality health care across a continuum that encompasses education, prevention, early intervention, comprehensive treatment options, rehabilitation and wellness maintenance. To learn more, visit HolyName.org.