New EQ News Template - Catholic Health System

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2Catholic Health Lab Information SystemUndergoes Major UpgradeCatholic Health’s Laboratory Services underwenta major technology upgrade for the first time innearly a decade. Last month, the Lab InformationServices (LIS) department completed a majorupgrade to the SoftLab system in a 24-hour windowthat minimized the impact of the system beingoffline for our clinical areas.The SoftLab system supports more than fourmillion tests each year, and is a major componentof the clinical technology on which our physiciansand other clinicians rely. “This was an importantstep for our lab as we look to improve both qualityand efficiency for the medical professionals whorely on us day-in-and-day-out,” said Connie Bauer,Vice President, Laboratory Services.More than 50 Catholic Health Associatesworked long hours to make the SoftLab upgrade assmooth a transition as possible. About 20 laboratory“superusers” worked to validate 65 instrumentinterfaces and train about 400 laboratory endusers.The SoftLab system also has dozens ofinterfaces to other registration, clinical and billingsystems. The laboratory LIS and integration teamsworked diligently to ensure the accuracy of everyinterface.SoftLab not only communicates with otherCatholic Health computer systems like Soarian, butit must also interface with the Electronic MedicalRecords (EMRs) of more than 300 physiciansthroughout the region using three different softwarevendors. Beyond our own embedded connectivity withthese physicians, Catholic Health’s Lab feeds informationto HEALTHeLINK, the Western New YorkClinical Information Exchange.In addition to the software upgrade, the projectalso involved new CPUs and a conversion to anOracle database. Dozens of workstations (computers)had to be deployed to accommodate the enhancedSoftLab system. The IT networking and engineeringteams were integral in the setup of the hardware,networking and printing. “We deployed approximately115 new workstations across multiple locations sothat our lab associates would be able to take fulladvantage of this new and much more powerfulsystem,” said Pete Capelli, Vice President, IT Network& Infrastructure.The result of all this hard work is an LIS tool that ismuch faster and far more user friendly. There aresignificant enhancements in the system that willallow for better accounts receivable processing,producing a positive financial impact for the lab.Improved functionality includes the ability for SynopticReporting, a feature necessary for communitycancer center designation.
Soarian ClinicalsUpdateWell-Established Clinical ToolContinues to ExpandResults, orders, and documentation --- just threeshort years ago, nurses throughout Catholic Healthhad practically as many ways of doing/accessingthese things as there were nursing stations. Today,clinical information is reported, documented, andordered virtually the same way at each acute care site.Soarian has unlocked a whole new potential forimproved quality and patient safety through both thetechnology itself, and the standardized processesthat were developed for its use. Soarian ClinicalAccess was the first module to “go-live” and gave usa tool to access results on any patient anywhere inour acute care settings. It also gave physiciansaccess to information from anywhere - extendingcare beyond the hospital walls.Soarian Common Clinicals followed soon after,providing a common system for nurses to placeorders and a way to “hard wire” best practices andautomated alerts.Most recently, Soarian Clinical Team enabledelectronic nurse documentation and eliminatedlegibility issues, helped ensure complete documentationof care through built-in prompts and reminders.Recently, the use of Soarian for electronic documentationhas expanded to ancillary clinical areasincluding Food & Nutrition Services and the MedicalRehabilitation Units. Respiratory Therapy departmentsat all four acute care sites are currentlydesigning the way they will document in Soarian.Soarian Financials, which recently went live at theSt. Joseph Campus of Sisters Hospital, will also havean impact on clinical processes. Admissions and thepatient information associated with that process willbe captured in Soarian Financials. We expect thatimproved scheduling features will have a positiveimpact on the overall patient experience.3Soarian EDM OffersElectronic SignatureSoarian Enterprise Document Management (EDM)and Soarian Health Information Management (HIM)are Catholic Health’s new online solution that willreplace traditional paper documents, reports, andfolders, moving us ever closer to a more completeElectronic Medical Record. EDM allows CatholicHealth Physicians to electronically sign transcribedreports from anywhere they have secure access toSoarian.The ease of electronic signature is expected toimprove chart completion, ensuring that records areaccurate, up-to-date, and that claims may be submittedfor payment on a timely basis.Physicians who use EDM will log-into Soarian;click on an icon to determine if they have any transcribedreports to sign; and if they do, they will beable to read and sign them electronically right thereand then. The introduction of Soarian EDM hasprompted an increase in the use of Soarian, andHIM/EDM associates are working hard to providetraining and “refresher” information for physicianswho may have not used Soarian much. This excitingnew technology is a big plus for both our physiciansand our bottom line!
Page 1: EQUINOX NewsMay/June 2009Medication

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