As of July 2017, there are 1,786, 33 percent, of the more than 5,400 U.S. hospitals tracked by
HIMSS Analytics, have achieved Stage 6.
HIMSS Analytics announced Unity Health has achieved Stage 6 on the EMR Adoption
Model SM (EMRAM). This recognition includes the main Unity Health — White County
Medical Center campus in Searcy, Ark., and the Unity Health — Harris Medical Center
campus in Newport, Ark. Health Information Management Systems Society Analytics
developed the EMR Adoption Model in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating the progress
and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics®
LOGIC™. Tracking their progress in completing eight stages (0-7), hospitals can review the
implementation and utilization of information technology applications with the intent of
reaching Stage 7, which represents an advanced electronic patient record environment.
Stage 6 hospitals such as Unity Health,
Have made significant executive commitments and investments to reach this stage.
Appear to have a significant advantage over competitors for patient safety, clinician
support, clinician recruitment, and competitive marketing for both consumers and nurse
recruitment.
Have almost fully automated/paperless medical records when they have implemented
their IT applications across most of the inpatient care settings.
Are starting to either evaluate their data for care delivery process improvements or have
already documented significant improvements in this area.
Have made investments that are within reach of most hospitals and recognize the
strategic value of improving patient care with the EMR.
Have begun to create strategic alignments with their medical staff to effectively utilize
information technology to improve the patient safety environment
Are well positioned to provide data to key stakeholders, such as payers, the government,
physicians, consumers, and employers, to support electronic health record environments
and health information exchanges.
Stage 6 hospitals also have achieved a significant advancement in their IT capabilities that
positions them to successfully address many of the current industry transformations, such as
meaningful use criteria in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, claims attachments for
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, pay for performance, and government
quality reporting programs.
Through years of growth and development, Unity Health was previously recognized as a
Stage 4 hospital and through an entire recent update and utilizing distinct systems within the
organization; Unity Health underwent a validation process to achieve Stage 6.
Within the last year, a goal for the Unity Health IT Department has been to integrate the
main hospital information system, with a Picture Archiving and Communication System
(PACS). This integration allows caregivers to access patient information that creates a profile to
view images and information during treatment. The following areas of the EMR have
contributed to the process of achieving Stage 6 recognition:
1) Medication reconciliation determines patients medications used outside of the
hospital and helps to avoid drug interactions prescribed within the hospital setting and
when returning home.
2) Medication administration uses a barcoding system to ensure the right prescriptions
are distributed to patients properly.
3) Documentation from providers and nursing staff is a critical piece of the process for
the system to function successfully by recording patient information.
4) Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) allows providers to order testing,
therapy or medication for a patient and by doing so electronically, the system deciphers
the history of patient orders and their progress.
“To reach Stage 6 at Unity Health has been a major accomplishment,” Unity Health
Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Phil Miller said, “We are excited to be
recognized for this honor. It is nice to be measured against a set of criteria and know you have
met it and are on the right path. We are able to strive for the fullest integration of systems. This
has been a long-term project for us, we have steadily concentrated on these efforts since 2008
and it is fulfilling to reach this stage. We have sought to incorporate as much electronic record
keeping as possible. Through achieving this status, we have also received the criteria to reach
Stage 7. Our goal now is to adopt systems that are more efficient for caregivers; we want to use
technology to improve the lives of our patients through efficiency and effectiveness.”
“HIMSS Analytics congratulates Unity Health for making significant progress towards
achieving advanced health IT adoption,” said John H. Daniels, CNM, FACHE, FHIMSS,
CPHIMS, Global Vice President, HIMSS Analytics. “Stage 6 represents a level of sophistication
that can lead to innovative healthcare transformation.”
About HIMSS Analytics
HIMSS Analytics is a global healthcare advisor, providing guidance and market intelligence
solutions that move the industry forward with insight to enable better health through the use of
IT. As a trusted healthcare research and advisory firm, the industry depends on HIMSS
Analytics’ resources, benchmarks, predictive models and assessment tools to improve decision
making regarding their IT strategic roadmap and market strategy. HIMSS Analytics is uniquely
positioned and differentiated through its industry focused offerings which include its Healthcare
IT market intelligence tool, Healthcare IT insights and Healthcare IT benchmarks and services.
The LOGIC market intelligence tool has the largest technology data set with unmatched breadth
and depth needed for guiding healthcare IT strategies. HIMSS Analytics research and advisory
consultants uncover unique insights on how to optimally use IT to tackle today’s healthcare
challenges faced by both healthcare delivery organizations and IT companies. Its EMR Adoption
Model (EMRAM) provides a strategic roadmap and guidance along an 8-stage model with
comparisons to healthcare organizations in the same country and around the world.
HIMSS Analytics, a wholly owned subsidiary of HIMSS, is the healthcare research and advisory
firm for healthcare delivery organizations, IT companies, governmental entities, and financial,
pharmaceutical, consulting and emerging technology solution partners worldwide. Visit
himssanalytics.org for more information.
