Florida Hospital Waterman Achieves Prestigious HIMSS Level 7 Designation for Electronic Medical Record Adoption

Florida Hospital Waterman has received the Stage 7 Award from HIMSS Analytics, a nationwide-system used to track electronic medical records (EMR) progress at hospitals and health systems. The hospital will be recognized at the annual HIMSS conference in February 2017 in Orlando. Florida Hospital Waterman is only the second Adventist Health System hospital in Florida to achieve Stage 7 designation. Nationally, less than 5% of hospitals have reached Stage 7.

The Stage 7 Award represents attainment of the highest level on Health Information Management Systems Society Analytics Electronic Medical Records Adoption Model, which is used to track electronic medical record (EMR) progress at hospitals and health systems.

HIMSS Analytics developed the EMR Adoption Model in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics Database. There are eight stages (0-7) that measure a hospitals implementation and utilization of information technology applications. The final stage, Stage 7, represents an advanced and paperless patient record environment. According to HIMSS Analytics, Stage 7 hospitals have a very real competitive and quality advantage, as they support the true sharing, information exchange and immediate delivery of patient data to improve process performance, quality of care and patient safety.

Since its implementation at Florida Hospital Waterman in 2006, the electronic health record (EHR) has improved the quality and safety of patient care. The team at Florida Hospital Waterman is making great use of their EHR capabilities, especially when it comes to a holistic care team approach, said John H. Daniels, CNM, FACHE, FHIMSS, CPHIMS, global vice president, healthcare advisory services group, HIMSS Analytics.

One such program initiated at Florida Hospital Waterman is APACHE (Acute Physiology Age Chronic Health), which utilizes the patients EHR to give patients family members a visual representation of their loved ones health status and prognosis to improve clinical documentation, and engage community stakeholders in ongoing support following discharge.

The Stage 7 validation process includes a site visit by an executive from HIMSS Analytics and former or current chief information officers from other organizations to ensure an unbiased evaluation. HIMSS Stage 7 represents the pinnacle of an environment where paper charts are no longer used to deliver patient care.

"This achievement further demonstrates Florida Hospital Waterman's commitment to integrate technology and teamwork to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of care we provide our patients, said Florida Hospital Waterman's President and CEO David Ottati. We're utilizing these advances to better engage physicians, the patient, their loved ones and caregivers in a care plan that ultimately results in safer, more efficient, cost-effective care for our patients."