The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center has received the HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 Award for four hospitals, reaching the peak level of implementation on the Electronic Medical Records Adoption Model, which tracks EMR progress at hospitals and health systems.

The hospitals awarded with the distinction are The Ohio State University Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute; The Ohio State University Hospital; and The Ohio State University Hospital East.

“We are very excited to receive the Stage 7 Award," said Phyllis Teater, CIO and associate vice president, health services at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. "We believe this designation is important beyond the award itself, because the criteria are structured to represent the advanced use of technology to improve patient care and working toward this award has helped us realize our mission of improving people's lives."

[See also: Imitation patients.]

HIMSS 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 Database. There are eight stages (0-7) that measure a hospital’s implementation and utilization of IT applications. Stage 7, represents an advanced patient record environment. The validation process to confirm a hospital has reached Stage 7 includes a site visit by an executive from HIMSS Analytics and former or current chief information officers to ensure an unbiased evaluation of the Stage 7 environments.

"This award is a tribute to the hard work of every member of our team," said Wexner Medical Center CEO Steven G. Gabbe, MD. "Our electronic system will allow us to provide more efficient, effective and better coordinated care to our patients. Patient records are in a central, secure location where health providers can access their patients' current health information.

[See also: Ohio State Medical Association's program helps physicians adopt EMRs.]

"Our electronic system also gives patients more ownership over their own medical care through the patient portal," Gabbe added. "They can review their health history, read over test results and see records from doctors' appointments and inpatient hospital stays. This will help patients become the active participants in their own health."

“The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is an extremely data-driven organization with outstanding clinical and business intelligence and a tightly scheduled, successful training process,” says John P. Hoyt, executive vice president of HIMSS Analytics. “Ohio State has changed the culture and expectations of health IT through this process by moving from a best-of-breed, multi-vendor environment to a primary vendor-focused environment. With the elimination of 169 interfaces, the primary vendor focus enabled enterprise-wide, evidence-based standardization beyond anything previously possible."