The nation’s Most Wired hospitals leverage the adoption and use of health information technology (IT) to improve performance in a number of areas, according to Health Care’s Most Wired 2012 Survey. As a field, hospitals are focused on expanding and adopting IT that protects patient data, and optimizes patient flow and communications.

LGMC was the only hospital in Louisiana to land the 2012 Health Care’s Most Wired, while Opelousas General Health System (OGHS), an affiliate of LGMC, was recognized in the survey as a 2012 Most Wired – Small and Rural hospital. LGMC and OGHS were the only two Louisiana hospitals to garner any recognition.

"Our focus will be to build an EHR foundation for care delivery that extends out to our community, to integrate our primary care, homecare, school clinics, and provide employers with tools such as telemedicine solutions to provide real-time clinical information and care delivery,” says Edwina Mallery, RHIA, AVP of Information Systems at LGMC.

LGMC has a long history of technological firsts in Acadiana. This year, the hospital became the first to offer a jobsite telemedicine clinic, achieve Stage 6 status in electronic record keeping and was among a handful of hospitals from around the world to broadcast a live surgical procedure to the largest peripheral vascular conference in the United States.

In November 2011, Lafayette General and Opelousas General were the first in the State to pilot the Louisiana Health Information Exchange (LaHIE). LaHIE is the mechanism that allows for the secure exchange of health information among authorized providers.

"Our hospital has always been a pioneer in bringing the most advanced technology to Acadiana,” says LGMC President/CEO David L. Callecod, FACHE. "We will continue to pave the way by incorporating the newest, safest and most effective health care strategies available.”

Callecod praised his hospital staff and those at OGHS for helping implement and adapt to the latest technology. "It takes a total team effort to smoothly transition into new technology. I applaud Opelousas General President/CEO Gary Keller and Vice President of Information Technology/CIO Jared Lormand for their dedication to enhancing technology in Acadiana. They are a valuable partner to the LGMC family,” he says.

"It was very forward-thinking to join LGMC in the LaHIE venture” Lormand says. "This exchange will set the stage for the future of health care delivery in Louisiana and the nation.

"We are very excited to be recognized along with LGMC this year for the Most Wired award. This is OGHS’ fourth year being recognized by the AHA’s Most Wired since 2005. Our administration and board of trustees strive to stay on the leading edge of all facets of health care that we deliver,” says Lormand.

"Our patients are at the center of all of our systems and therefore allow us to utilize information technology to improve their health, reduce their cost and continue enhancing our quality of care,” added Mallery.

"Getting this type of recognition is a welcome reward for our staff and illustrates a commitment to our mission to restore, maintain and improve health,” she says.

Hospitals & Health Networks magazine singled out a few key findings of this year’s survey, and LGMC met each of the criteria included. Among the key findings were:

· Ninety-three percent of Most Wired hospitals employ intrusion detection systems to protect patient privacy and security of patient data, in comparison to seventy-seven percent of the total responders.

· Seventy-four percent of Most Wired hospitals and fifty-seven percent of all surveyed hospitals use automated patient flow systems.

· Ninety percent of Most Wired hospitals and seventy three percent of all surveyed use performance improvement scorecards to help reduce inefficiencies.

· One hundred percent of Most Wired hospitals check drug interactions and drug allergies when medications are ordered as a major step in reducing medication errors

"As shown by these survey results, hospitals continue to demonstrate how IT not only can be used to improve patient care and safety but it is also a means to improve efficiency,” says Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the AHA. "Hospitals receiving Most Wired recognition are truly representative of our nation's hospitals and systems – rural and urban, small and large, teaching and non-teaching, and critical access hospitals geographically dispersed.”

"Equipping caregivers with the information needed to drive quality, safety and efficiency will continue to be an imperative as the challenges facing health systems grow increasingly complex,” says Pat Blake, president, McKesson Technology Solutions. "The effective use of health IT, including actionable analytics and connectivity, can be a strategic lever as hospitals and health systems work to drive better outcomes while managing capacity, reducing costs, and coordinating care across multiple settings and caregivers.”

The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

About Lafayette General Medical Center

Lafayette General Medical Center, a 353 staffed bed facility, is the largest full-service, acute-care medical center in the nine-parish area of Acadiana. LGMC provides families with comprehensive medical services at every level of care, from severe emergency trauma to the common cold. Lafayette General evolved from Lafayette Sanitarium, a six-bed facility that opened in 1911, and has been a leader in health care throughout its existence. Over the years, LGMC has expanded its services and facilities to meet the community's growing needs.

Lafayette General Medical Center is recognized by federal and state tax laws as a 501c(3) not-for-profit corporation. Although the hospital generates money by billing for its health care services, it does not pay out any revenue to shareholders, as for-profits do. Any net revenue is reinvested into the organization for new equipment, facilities, and technology to better care for the people we serve.

As the region’s only community-owned and managed hospital, all decisions are made locally by an experienced administrative team and a volunteer Membership Corporation and Board of Trustees. At LGMC, you can count on us to stay one step ahead of the changing face of health care. For general information, call (337) 289-7991.

About Opelousas General Health System
Since 1957, Opelousas General Health System has been dedicated to the provision of quality health care through its strong commitment and high standards. Central to the success of OGHS's commitment for excellence is the presence of an outstanding and highly qualified staff of physicians, nurses, technologists and other personnel who provide professional treatment in a caring environment. Serving as the region's referral medical center, OGHS is a 245-bed, full service medical center, and the area's most comprehensive community health care facility offering a wide range of medical specialties and state-of-the-art technology.

About the AHA

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. Close to 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 40,000 individual members come together to form the AHA. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at www.aha.org.

About the Most Wired Survey

The 2012 Most Wired Survey is conducted in cooperation with McKesson Corporation, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), and the American Hospital Association.

About the Sponsors

McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 14th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of healthcare run better. We partner with payers, hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. McKesson helps its customers improve their financial, operational, and clinical performance with solutions that include pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management, healthcare information technology, and business and clinical services. For more information, visit http://www.mckesson.com.

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 1,400 CIO members and over 70 healthcare IT vendors and professional services firms, CHIME provides a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate; exchange best practices; address professional development needs; and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and healthcare in the communities they serve.