Good Samaritan Hospital Launches Electronic Medical Records System

Good Samaritan Hospital has joined the ranks of a small but growing number of innovative hospitals implementing electronic medical records, with its successful launch of the Epic healthcare information technology system this fall. According to Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Policy, only 12 percent of hospitals in the U.S. are currently using technology to manage patient records.

Good Samaritan is the second hospital in the Premier Health Partners system to come online with the Epic system; Miami Valley Hospital implemented the system in late 2006. With a growing number of local practices also joining the network, patients are already seeing the benefit.

“We have already had patients who had tests at their local doctor’s office come into the ER later and we can treat them better, knowing this information,” said Ann Schuerman, vice president of Operations, eSynergy, for Premier Health Partners. “Doctors can view and track patient data in more sophisticated ways than with a paper chart.  For example, it is simple now to view how vital signs react to medications over time.”

The electronic medical records system allows physicians and other authorized staff to view patient records right at their bedside. The patient data is used just like a paper chart to track treatment and help each shift of caregivers stay current on each patient’s needs and status. The secure system tracks data like x-rays, medication history, physician notes, treatment history, and previous surgeries. All data are immediately accessible as soon as updates are added.

Good Samaritan implemented the system with patient safety and future enhancements in mind.  Beginning in 2009 the hospital will be adding bar coding technology, so that all medications can be scanned and assigned to each patient, creating a permanent record in the system and enabling clinicians to avoid medication errors and prevent contraindications or allergic reactions.

“Computerized records open the door to a number of ways to leverage technology to improve patient care and outcomes,” said Dr. Walter Reiling III of Samaritan North Family
Physicians. “We have the potential to identify trends in how people in Dayton respond to treatment by looking at aggregated medical data.”

And while patient satisfaction and improving health outcomes are the chief goals of the new electronic medical records system, the hospital is also seeing great benefits to physicians who are able to access charts wherever they are in the hospital or their offices.

“We have been very excited to see that the new system is aiding in the recruitment of bright young medical residents who appreciate electronic files and the opportunity to work at a hospital at the forefront of this trend,” said Schuerman.