Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

SPOTLIGHT MOST WIRED: Integrated and Ready

A strategy to use a single, integrated EMR has helped make Elliot Health System, based in Manchester, NH, the first health system in New Hampshire to achieve meaningful use requirements. Serving southern New Hampshire, EHS has created a community-based electronic medical record ?where care providers can share information real-time, engage patients in their care through a patient portal and see the results of care provided by other specialists in the community,? says Denise Purington, R.N., vice president, CIO. More than a decade ago, before meaningful use, EHS began its efforts to become fully electronic. The aim was for patients to ?move seamlessly? from their physician?s office to a specialist or to outpatient services, including emergency and surgical services, with all their health information available, Purington explains. The strategy was to ?meaningfully use? IT for improved communication and care delivery. Purington emphasizes that ?provider participation in our EMR hasn?t been an option?it?s been a given.? She adds that providers report they are communicating better with patients and avoiding unnecessary testing because of single-EMR access. For more information, contact Purington at dpurington@elliot-hs.org.