POTSDAM -- Canton-Potsdam Hospital will begin installation Jan. 1 of the first phase of electronic medical record (EMR) software called MEDITECH 6.0, designed to improve safety and quality of patient treatment at the hospital.

MEDITECH is one of the leading providers of EMR software. The installation follows months of preparation by cross-functional teams drawn from all areas of the hospital's clinical and support operations.

"This significant investment of capital and human resources is much more than a simple upgrade to our software: it's about changing the way we deliver care," said Deanna L. Page, Vice President of Clinical Services at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, who has been leading the process redesign teams.

"New models of care delivery will require greater coordination, higher levels of safety and quality, and cost-consciousness," Page added. "We've examined every aspect of patient contact and analyzed our systems, and in some cases we're building new processes from the ground up, and in other cases we're revising old processes.”

"The new software will seamlessly integrate information in real-time to support business process changes," said Jorge C. Grillo, CPH Chief Information Officer. "Ultimately, those changes will benefit the patient," he added.

The installation is also timed to take advantage of government incentives.

"Financial incentives are available based on complying with an aggressive timeline for implementation," said Grillo. "Involvement from our care givers has helped us stay on track to benefit from those incentives, and we're hopeful they'll assist us in paying for the systems," he said.

Andrew Williams, MD, FACP, Internal Medicine specialist at CPH, and the leader of the medical staff component of the EMR, agrees.

“These new tools improve communication between doctors and the healthcare team. The new system will help to ensure that patients receive the right medications, optimize the length of hospitalization, and decrease the risk of human errors in the delivery of healthcare." He said. "While it may take some time to adjust to the new system, ultimately we expect it will save time, allowing doctors, allied health professionals, and nursing professionals to do what they do best: listen to patients and attend to their needs."

EMR will provide a seamless link between offices of physicians and allied health professionals in the hospital’s outpatient primary care centers and outpatient specialist clinics. If a patient is seen in one of these outpatient areas, the information will be available to the Hospital instantly. The Hospital is hopeful to be able to offer a similar service to private practices in the future.

Patients at CPH will likely notice some differences in the way they receive care.

As part of the bedside medication verification (BMV) system, patient identification wrist bands will now include a bar code, which will be scanned prior to dispensing any medication.

This system confirms the right patient, right medication, right dose, and right time. In addition, patients will notice workstations on wheels, WOWs, in their rooms. This portable computer station allows data to be entered easily and in real time, which means patients' records are updated before staff leave a room.

This is especially beneficial in instances where multiple providers are assigned to a patient. Although implementation is expected to increase efficiency and ease of data entry, staff will be taking the necessary measures to ensure accuracy while using the new software.

For more information about Canton-Potsdam Hospital's EMR, contact Jorge Grillo, CIO, at 261-5200.