News Releases

January 15, 2008
West Georgia Health System Enters a New Digital Future

Health system implements a new health information technology system

West Georgia Health System (WGHS) hospital staff will soon be able to view patient's medical histories, confirm the patient's identity and allergies; and coordinate x-rays, laboratory tests, and treatment — all without using a single scrap of paper. The more streamlined operations are just one benefit that will come with the new, advanced health information technology system WGHS began implementing in January. The $12 million system designed by MEDITECH, the leading provider of health information systems, will create a centralized database of patient medical information and enable the health system to automate many of its clinical, financial and administrative functions.

While implementation is still in its infancy, WGHS President and CEO Jerry Fulks said health information technology will become increasingly important for the hospital.

"Better tools, better information and better ways of sharing information will be critical in connecting the health care community and ensuring the safest, best possible care for the patients we serve," said Fulks.

According to the Georgia Health Information Exchange (GHIE), an organization dedicated to the widespread adoption of health information technology, fewer than 13 percent of Georgia's 170 plus hospitals have implemented comprehensive health information technology systems. WGHS is an "early adopter" and the first health system nationwide to implement MEDITECH's newest generation of software, Client/Server 6.0, a system designed for scalability, reliability, performance and secure, remote access. The health system is a pilot site for the new technology platform.

Phse I implementation began this month and includes most of the system's core components, said MEDITECH Implementation Coordinator Eric Disque. Basic financial applications like general ledger and fixed assets; administrative applications such as registration and billing; clinical applications for pharmacy, imaging, radiology and therapeutic services, as well as electronic medical records will all be installed during Phase I.

"The new techonology acts as the central nervous system for the entire health system," said CFO Paul Perrotti, administrative manager for the MEDITECH project. "All aspects of hospital life will be linked into this new system, which will enable cliniciansn to have electronic access critical information like lab results, admissions and discharge data, images, and notes from physicians wherever they might need it."

The health system added a substantial amount of hardware in preparation for the January go-live of Phase I including, nearly 90 additional personal computers (PCs) throughout the hospital, which will include tablet PCs for physician use. It also added more than 20 computers on wheels (COWs) or wireless carts with networked computers that can be used at patient bedside.

Instead of gathering patient information on paper, the nursing staff will now be using these mobile devices to log in to the MEDITECH system and record a list of patients' medications, allergies, and other critical information right at the point of care.

"If a patient is admitted today, goes home, and comes back, all their data is retrievable," said Cinda Morrow, RN, manager of clinical information systems. "That means nurses won't have to ask patients for the same information at every visit. We can just review and confirm their information in our systems for accuracy. The process will be much faster."

Morrow said the computers on wheels are great tools as the nursing staff moves toward bedside documentation and assessments in Phase II. With bedside documentation, nurses will be able to access daily assessments and track any patient condition changes from shift to shift.

Such changes will help clinicians spend less time information gathering and more time at patients bedside, which, Morrow added, will not only help improve patient satisfaction and safety, but save nurses valuable time.

The health system also added lab label printers in all clinical settings, which will eliminate the need for nurses and other clinical staff to handwrite labels, making it easier for laboratory staff to log the sample into the lab system and minimize the chance of an error occurring.

In addition, the health system will be installing Web-based access to the hospital's MEDITECH system in all physician offices, which will enable physicians to remotely access to hospital records.

Eventually, doctors will also be able to order prescriptions and lab test through the system.

"This will enable us to create a more seamless patient experience and enable the health system to work even more collaboratively with our medical staff to the benefit of our patients and our community," said Perrotti.

But even more important than the software or the hardware involved, are the countless human resources dedicated to this project. More than 150 WGHS employees have been involved in the building of the system over the last 10 months. MEDITECH also had more than double its normal implementation staff assisting WGHS staff with the building and implementation of the new system.

"Change is never easy; it's confusing and uncomfortable — even when it's the right thing," said Fulks. "But the staff of this hospital is remarkable. The 13 core MEDITECH teams have given up weekends and holidays to ensure the success of this project. Their support, guidance, feedback, patience and hard work are responsible for the incredible progress we have made so far."

Morrow said the hospital will be operating in a part paper, part electronic world until later this summer when the remaining areas of the hospital — including the emergency department — are integrated with the MEDITECH system.

About MEDITECH

MEDITECH has been the leading provider of Health Care Information Systems (HCIS) industry since 1969. MEDITECH's applications unify clinical, administrative, and financial information across a health care organization, including acute care, long-term care, home health care, and physician practices. Today, more than 2,000 institutions worldwide use MEDITECH's information systems. For additional information on MEDITECH products and services, visit www.meditech.com