Albany Med Recognized as 'Most Improved' in Information Technology
ALBANY, N.Y., July 18, 2007 - Albany Medical Center is among a group of 25 health care organizations named "Most Improved" in information systems technology, according to the American Hospital Association's (AHA) 2007 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study. The study which was released today appears in the current (July) issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, a journal of the AHA. The issue also contained a list of the 100 "Most Wired" hospitals and health systems.
"Albany Medical Center is devoting significant resources in health information technology as part of the institution's ongoing commitment to clinical quality and patient safety," said George Hickman, senior vice president and chief information officer at Albany Med. "To be recognized for our efforts - and the successes we have already achieved in just the first of our multi-phased technology initiative - is a great honor."
The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation's hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues. While not on the "Most Wired" list, Albany Med was sited among 25 organizations whose score improved the most from 2004 to 2005.
To date, Albany Medical Center has deployed several clinical systems including Soarian Clinicals, a product of Siemens, as well as Philips/Stentor's iSite PACS (Picture Archiving Communications System) and Cerner/Bridge Medical's MedPoint barcode-supported bedside medication administration technology. These systems are allowing clinicians to receive and access data from many sources and use that data for clinical and financial decision-making.
Plans are also underway within the next two years to deploy other elements of the Siemens' Soarian suite including orders management, documentation and clinical workflow support, as well as Allscripts' Touchworks electronic health record system within the Albany Medical College's Faculty Practice and a host of other tools across the institution.
Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2007 survey in cooperation with Accenture, McKesson Corp. and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.
