That effort was recognized two years ago when we were presented with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics Stage 7 Award; we became one of only two organizations in Maryland to achieve this for both the inpatient and ambulatory settings. This accomplishment was due to the commitment and the hard work of the GBMC staff, including our highly skilled team of physicians, nurses, other clinicians, and IT professionals.
We have now been recognized again. Epic recently awarded us with Magna Cum Laude status in its Honor Roll Program. The recognition program is based on achieving continuous improvements in patient outcomes, quality of care, workflow efficiency, and financial performance. This is a unique distinction that is not held by many across the United States.
To talk about the award and what it all means, I've asked Dave Hynson, our Chief Information Officer, to discuss this with me in this week’s blog.
Dave, first let me start off by congratulating you and your team! Briefly tell us more about this award and why is it significant for our healthcare system?
Thank you, Dr. Chessare, for your kind words and for highlighting our recognition from the Epic Honor Roll program. This achievement was truly a team effort.
Reaching Honor Roll status is based on strategies, lessons learned, and best practices distilled from Epic’s experience serving healthcare organizations There are three levels of program achievement based on the number of components completed: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude. The GBMC Epic team participated in this program in March and successfully obtained Magna Cum Laude! GBMC is now one of the three Epic organizations to date to have received this award for 2019.
Can you tell us how we were able to achieve this recognition?
The GBMC Epic team reviewed the Honor Roll requirements and created a workgroup that established leads for each portion of the Honor Roll checklist. Action plans were then created, and meetings held with key operational stakeholders to review the criteria and evaluate the benefits to GBMC and align the work with our quadruple aim. Through strong collaboration and communication, we implemented functionality within Epic that streamlined care delivery for our patients and enhanced end-user workflow. In addition, we further engaged patients as active members of their care team with tools that allowed them to self-schedule appointments, review their test results, and read notes from their providers in MyChart.
What are some of the next steps to help us receive the Summa Cum Laude distinction?
As we continue to leverage the Epic software, one of the main components is the infrastructure and meeting the standards for system response time and performance. Fast system response time and downtime preparedness increases productivity and better care delivery for our patients. By maximizing the performance of the system, the team can ensure that it is built for user efficiency and patient safety, so the focus can remain on our four aims.
What are some helpful changes for our staff and patients, or important upgrades to Epic that might be taking place in the near or distant future?
We have moved to quarterly upgrades that allow us to incorporate enhancements and refuel the system more regularly. We have an upgrade planned for October 23rd of this year and new features will be introduced at that time. The team is working to identify the enhancements now and then will partner with operations to create a roadmap for development, conduct end-user testing, and offer any training necessary before implementing the changes.
***
I sincerely thank Dave and his entire team for all they do every day to reach our vision of being the community-based health system where every patient, every time gets the care that we would want for our own loved ones. I applaud them for their commitment and their excellence!
Accolades from Near and Afar
I am proud to announce a couple of significant recognitions from two print media outlets – one local and another national.
GBMC HealthCare was recently included in the inaugural Forbes list of America’s Best-in-State Employers 2019! GBMC was one of seven healthcare systems being recognized in the state of Maryland. The selection process was based on an independent survey from a vast sample of more than 80,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 500 people in their U.S. operations. Employees were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family; participants were also prompted to evaluate other employers in their respective industries that stood out either positively or negatively.The Baltimore Jewish Times also unveiled its list of “Best of Jewish Baltimore 2019” last week. GBMC was named “Best Hospital” by the readers of the Jewish Times. I am truly proud of the great reputation we have among the Jewish community and for their trust in GBMC to meet their healthcare needs.
Stroke Center Award
The award is given by The American Heart Association (AHA) in recognition of hospitals that met specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
This award is the result of the hard work of our entire stroke team and demonstrates GBMC’s high level of commitment and expertise in caring for stroke patients. With an aging population, we are at the ready to provide superior care to all GBMC stroke patients, day in and day out. Great work & congratulations!
I want to wish everyone in our GBMC family a safe and happy fourth of July. The Independence Day Holiday is the birthday of our great country..the land of the free and the home of the brave. Let's take some time to reflect on what we can each do to make our country even better than it is today.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for taking time to read "A Healthy Dialogue" and for commenting on the blog. Comments are an important part of the public dialogue and help facilitate conversation. All comments are reviewed before posting to ensure posts are not off-topic, do not violate patient confidentiality, and are civil. Differing opinions are welcome as long as the tone is respectful.