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Upstate makes Most Wired hospitals list for 2017

Upstate makes Most Wired hospitals list for 2017

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- Upstate University Hospital has landed on the 2017 national list of Most Wired hospitals.

The announcement was made by the American Hospital Association (AHA), which surveyed hospitals throughout the nation to assess their technology use and capability.

“This is outstanding recognition for the talented team at our Information Management and Technology department,” said Steven Scott, MPH, FACHE, interim chief executive officer of Upstate University Hospital, about Upstate’s place on the Most Wired list. “The information management and technology professionals are vital members of our health care team as they help manage the process that transmits millions of bits of information each day that are essential to ensuring quality care and patient safety.”

In the past year, Upstate has added new applications for radiology, infection control, dental and case management to its Electronic Medical Record system, called EPIC, which also saw a system upgrade.  Also added was a bedside lab specimen collection application.

“Technology is transforming health care in many ways, from how medical care is delivered to how vital patient information is stored and secured,” said Terry Wagner, Upstate’s chief information officer.  “These investments in health care technology bring benefits to our patients, whether they receive their care in the hospital or in one of our many outpatient clinics.”

Upstate is poised to make further advances in technology use as optimizing technology, facilities and support services is one of 15 objectives in Upstate’s recently released strategic plan, OUR Upstate.

Upstate also is using its technology to bring its care and expertise to areas of the state that lack specific care, such as Upstate’s telestroke services. Upstate partners with nine regional hospitals, providing real-time neurological consults with possible stroke patients. Working together with Emergency Department medical staff in these outlying hospitals, Upstate practitioners become part of the care team through technology. Upstate is looking to expand its telehealth services for burn and trauma care.

Upstate also made the Most Wired list in 2016.

In announcing the Most Wired hospitals, AHA also released results of its Most Wired survey. Findings show that:

- 82 percent analyze retrospective clinical and administrative data to identify areas for improving quality and reducing the cost of care

- Three- quarters use sophisticated analytics, such as predictive modeling and data to improve decision making

- Nearly 70 percent interface electronic health record data with population health tools for care management

- More than 70 percent are providing data analytic tools training to physicians and nurses

- 45 percent initiate a patient pathway using health IT to follow a care plan.

- Nearly 40 percent deliver quality metrics to physicians at the point-of-care.

- 32 percent have tools for real-time patient identification and tracking for value-based care conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Most Wired survey was conducted between Jan. 15 and March 15 and is published annually by Hospitals & Health Networks.

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.

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