Atrium Health Earns CHIME HealthCares Most Wired 2018 Award and Top 10 Ranking in the Nation
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 2, 2018 – Charlotte was recently named No. 1 for tech jobs. Now Atrium Health has been recognized as a “CHIME HealthCare’s Most Wired 2018” organization for the 15th consecutive year. Additionally, by ranking in the 99th percentile compared to peers, Atrium Health is the only healthcare system in North Carolina to also be designated as one of the Top 10 systems in the nation, ranking at No. 6 out of 254 winners.
“Over the years, Atrium Health has put the infrastructure in place to allow us to be a top IT department,” said Jonathan Bowers, vice president and interim CIO at Atrium Health. “Our Information Analytics and Systems teams, in partnership with our clinicians and business operations, are innovative in their approach to technology and continuously strive to make a difference in the lives of our patients. Being a Top 10 Most Wired healthcare organization in the nation is a testament to the hard work, energy and intelligence the team brings to the job every day.”
CHIME HealthCare’s Most Wired, now in its 20th year, traditionally tracked the adoption of healthcare IT in hospitals and health systems. College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) took over the Most Wired program and revised the survey questions and methodology this year to highlight strengths and gaps in the industry. The goal is to identify best practices and promote the strategic use of healthcare IT to elevate the health and care of communities around the world.
Among the technologies integrated by Atrium Health in the past year were:
- Completing the conversion of a new revenue cycle and patient access across the whole organization.
- Enhancing online patient portal & mobile applications, including open scheduling of primary care and cardiology appointments.
- Integrating vitals and IV pump data directly into the electronic health record which allows accelerated condition monitoring.
- Implementing secure texting messaging system with on-call and consult schedules to improve patient care.
“Healthcare IT has the potential to revolutionize care around the world, but to meet that potential it must be used strategically,” said Russell Branzell, president and CEO of CHIME. “The technology is important, but leadership and a strategic vision are equally important. The diversity of the organizations that earned Most Wired status this year shows quality care can be achieved almost anywhere under the right leadership. By sharing the best practices in Most Wired, we hope quality care will one day be available everywhere.”
Atrium Health has focused its IT efforts over the years in ensuring that not only the infrastructure is in place but also ensuring that the most modern, contemporary and secure technologies are in place to serve our patients and providers.
“Our experience and ability to execute in the face of complex and challenging technology issues is a testament to our team’s commitment,” said Bowers. “Atrium Health is one of the nation’s most complex health system, spanning multiple states where we deliver primary, specialty and continuing care in both urban and rural communities. Our team ensures our systems meet the needs of patients and providers across the network for more than 30,000 daily patient encounters.”
About Atrium Health
Atrium Health, previously Carolinas HealthCare System, one of the nation's leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout the Southeast region. Its diverse network of care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care services. Atrium Health works to enhance the overall health and well-being of its communities through high-quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives.
About CHIME
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers (CIOs), chief medical information officers (CMIOs), chief nursing information officers (CNIOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 2,700 members in 51 countries and over 150 healthcare IT business partners and professional services firms, CHIME provides a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate; exchange best practices; address professional development needs; and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and healthcare in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.
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