Lifespan

Lifespan’s mission is to improve the health status of the community in Rhode Island and Southeastern New England. Its information technology guiding principles recognize that a standard network-wide information platform is key to improved decision-making, communication, transferability of technology gains and patient safety by providing clinicians with the information they need.

When initially implementing its CPOE system, Lifespan utilized medical residents from Brown University who had taken a special elective in informatics. They became a pool of "super users" who could support physicians at implementation. Physicians could order medication without a nurse's help.

Once doctors were online, Lifespan implemented an automated medication administration check process. After an order is placed electronically, the hospital pharmacy releases the medication to a nurse through an automated fulfillment system. Nurses then can check barcoding systems to verify the medication against any patient and chart information online.

Results

• Adoption rate for online medication is consistently above 90%.
• Time studies of closed-loop process showed a reduction in turnaround time from an average of 2 hours to an average of 11 minutes.
• There was also a 55-60% reduction of incalls made to the pharmacy to clarify orders.

***For further information, please visit, www.usa.siemens.com/executivegateway.

Published: January 26, 2009