Rush University Medical Center Named Among ‘100 Most Wired Hospitals’ for Seventh Consecutive Year

“We are proud to be recognized as a Most Wired Hospital. At Rush, we are committed to apply and maximize the use of technology to provide safer and better care for our patients,” said Lac Tran, senior vice president and chief information officer. “Our intensive efforts in rolling out Computerized Physicians Order Entry to reduce medication errors, Physicians Multi-Functions Terminals for ease of accessing patients’ records, Physicians Web Portals, and a patient-friendly website are a few technology initiatives that give us the edge.”

According to the survey, the nation’s 100 Most Wired hospitals show better outcomes than all other hospitals nationally in four key areas: mortality rates, patient safety measures from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), core measures from Hospital Compare and average length of stay. Based on analysis of the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study results, hospitals are embracing technology as a key tool for health care quality improvements.

A satisfaction analysis of the survey found that patients favor hospitals with advanced information technology. The results show that patients at top technology hospitals have a better overall assessment of their stay and specifically are more satisfied with the admission process and the manner in which tests and treatments are handled.

Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2008 survey in cooperation with Accenture, American Hospital Association, McKesson Corp. and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.