UAB Named One Of Nation's 100 "Most Wired" Hospitals For Seventh Year

The UAB Health System (UABHS) remains one of the 100 most wired hospitals in the nation, marking its seventh year on the prestigious list — a tenure longer than other top medical centers, including Duke University Health System (two years), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (two years) and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (two years).

July 14, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB Health System (UABHS) remains one of the 100 most wired hospitals in the nation, marking its seventh year on the prestigious list — a tenure longer than other top medical centers, including Duke University Health System (two years), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (two years) and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (two years).

UABHS was named in the July issue of Hospitals and Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, as one of the 100 “Most Wired Hospitals and Health Networks.”

UABHS has been included on the list seven of the eight years HHN has been conducting the annual survey, making it the only hospital in Alabama to merit such a distinction. Hospitals are surveyed on their use of Internet technologies for safety and quality, customer service, disaster readiness, business processes and workforce issues. They are cited for pairing information technology with strategic plans in their efforts to improve quality, streamline processes and drive financial returns.

In comparing hospitals and health systems across the country, HHN found that the “Most Wired” also:

  • conduct more pre- and post-implementation evaluations of IT projects;
  • maintain a larger proportion of their medical records in a paperless format;
  • provide digital imaging to more clinical disciplines in a wider range of settings;
  • employ a broader set of telemedicine services; and
  • deploy more IT educational resources for staff.

 

“Our information systems provide quick, accurate and comprehensive clinical data to our health care professionals, enhancing patient care and service,” said UABHS CEO David Hoidal. “It is imperative that we continue to use information systems to improve patient care and to stay ahead of the game with today’s ever-changing technologies.”

At UABHS, physicians perform a host of clinical functions online. They check laboratory and imaging results, review clinical notes from other health care providers for their patients and enter patient care notes and medication orders.

“In addition, we ensure all of this is done in a secure, HIPAA-compliant environment that protects patient confidentiality,” Hoidal said.

“I am extremely pleased that UAB Health System again has been recognized by HHN as ‘Most Wired,’ said Joan C. Hicks, appointed in May as UABHS chief information officer. “Achieving this recognition reflects our strong commitment to information technology as a strategic imperative. This accomplishment also demonstrates the huge work effort by the HSIS staff.”

UAB provides health information directly to the public through its award-winning Health System Web site, www.uabhealth.org, and the main UAB Web site, www.uab.edu. It also offers information for referring physicians via www.uabmedicine.org/web/medicalprofessionals.