For Release November 30, 2008

Contact: Brian Reardon (217) 544-6464, ext. 44306

St. John’s Hospital converts to electronic medical record

SPRINGFIELD – Beginning at midnight on Monday, December 1, St. John’s Hospital will switch from a paper-based medical record to a digital record that will enhance patient safety and improve efficiencies in patient care.  St. John’s implementation of Meditech allows patient information to be accessed and archived by physicians and other healthcare professionals in a single electronic medical record (EMR).

“Patient safety is our number one priority.  By implementing Meditech, our physicians and clinical staff can tap into an advanced information system and provide our patients with an even higher standard of care,” said Bob Ritz, President and CEO of St. John’s Hospital.  Ritz congratulated the thousands of staff members who over the last year have undergone training and worked diligently to bring the electronic medical record system online.

The Meditech system has many advantages for patients, staff and physicians.  The fully-integrated EMR starts at registration and flows seamlessly through to discharge and patient accounting, giving caregivers a complete, up-to-the-minute patient record which accurately reflects all the care delivered, enhancing clinical decision-making. Nurses document care at the patient’s bedside using wireless computers and barcode scanners, eliminating double documentation and improving accuracy.

One of the key benefits is enhanced patient safety.  “By scanning the barcode on the patients’ ID band and the barcode on the medications, nurses are warned of any possible conflicts and the system automatically updates the medication administration record,” said Marcia Strow, RN, manager of Meditech implementation at St. John’s.  “This bedside verification assures the nurse that the right patients are receiving the right dosages of the right medications at the right time.”  With Meditech, patients’ test results, allergies and medication orders are immediately available through the patients’ profiles to alert caregivers to any potential problems prior to administering any medication.

St. John’s staff members have undergone extensive training for the transition. Over 600 mobile computers and tablets are being used throughout St. John’s campus. Staff members will continue to attend advanced seminars and meetings to educate them about the Meditech system.

During Meditech implementation, certain hospital staff members will serve as “Super Users” of the system. These individuals will be available throughout the patient care units to help answer questions and solve last-minute problems. In addition, a Command Center will be staffed 24 hours a day during the first two weeks to solve any problems that may arise.

About Meditech
The Meditech company has 39 years of experience developing, installing and supporting healthcare information systems. Its markets span the globe, including the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Latin America, Mexico and Spain.  

"We are excited that St. John's is providing Meditech's integrated EMRs to its physicians and staff," says Howard Messing, Meditech president and COO. "Many of our customers use the EMR to provide better, quality patient care to their communities.”