India’s Karuna Trust has achieved a digital health milestone, becoming the first healthcare provider in the nation to achieve HIMSS O-EMRAM Stage 6 for the technology integrations at its Tavarekere Urban Primary Health Center in Bengaluru.

WHY IT MATTERS

Karuna Trust joins a group of organisations across the globe that are committed to operating in a near paperless environment while using electronic patient record technology to drive improvements in all aspects of ambulatory care.

Congratulating Karuna Trust on its "incredible efforts", HIMSS Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa John Rayner, said the outcome was the result of the "hard work and dedication" of the clinical team, who worked alongside colleagues from EMR provider Cerner to complete the Outpatient Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model assessment.

"On being validated at Stage 6 you are clearly demonstrating your ongoing commitment to improving patient safety and the overall quality of clinical care through the effective use and deployment of electronic medical record technology," Rayner said.

Tavarekere UPHC was commended for an integrated system that allows all doctors, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals to document their patients' care. Devices for measuring blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and oxygen saturation all directly interface with the EMR, which also records the majority of blood tests and imaging examinations.

The digital system allows staff to use clinical decision support in COVID triage, symptom tracking and care pathways, and provides drug-allergy checks, dose range alerts and duplicate therapy alerts. A messaging system is used for clinical consults, internal communications and patient reminders.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

The O-EMRAM is used to assess EMR implementation for the outpatient services of hospitals and health systems, guiding the data-driven advancement of care outside the walls of the acute care setting.

Most recently in December last year, Dr Soliman Fakeeh Hospital achieved Stage 7 EMRAM, which is the highest level of validation for the model.

New O-EMRAM standards will be released in 2022, with the system being broadened to include assessments of remote and virtual care, and patient engagement, while providers will be required to demonstrate improved clinical outcomes.

ON THE RECORD

Dentist Dr Komal S. Naik from Tavarekere UPHC described it as a "proud moment" and recognition of a determined effort to harness digital technologies to improve healthcare for underprivileged populations in India.

"It is a great achievement and a proud moment to be part of it. We were thrilled when we got to know that we cleared the assessment," Dr Naik said.

"Karuna Trust aims at making Tavarekere UPHC a model health centre so we wanted to improve the standards of the hospital and digitise the centre to keep up with the modern advancements in the healthcare sector."