Atlanta-based Grady Health System, one of the largest safety net hospital systems in the country, has earned Stage 7 designation.
Stage 7 is the top level on the HIMSS Analytics Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model, otherwise known as EMRAM.
Grady is Georgia's only adult acute care hospital to earn the highest rating for improving patient care and safety through health information technology.
"We demonstrated that our advanced use of technology and data is making a real difference in how we care for patients and in patient outcomes,” Grady Health CIO Ben McKeeby said in a statement. ”The effective combination of our people and technology has driven clinical quality and financial improvements throughout the organization.”
One example is Grady's infectious disease program. Grady implemented alerting for clinicians within the EMR and recommended ordering pathways to screen patients for HIV and link those patients to treatment.
The result? A 96 percent reduction in transmission of HIV, when the patient is in treatment. Grady has identified and linked hundreds of patients to treatment through the program.
"Grady implemented a Meds to Beds program focused on reducing 30-day readmissions and improving patient experience,” added Philip Bradley regional director, North America, healthcare advisory services, operations at HIMSS Analytics.
The health system has increased revenue and decreased 30-day readmissions as a result.
Grady will be recognized at the 2017 HIMSS Conference & Exhibition.
HIMSS17 runs from Feb. 19-23, 2017 at the Orange County Convention Center.
This article is part of our ongoing coverage of HIMSS17. Visit Destination HIMSS17 for previews, reporting live from the show floor and after the conference.