BRUSSELS – HIMSS Analytics Europe will introduce awards for European Hospitals that have achieved the highest scores on the EMR Adoption Model (EMRAM). They'll be unveiled at the upcoming HIMSS Europe Health IT Leadership Summit in Rome from September 29 to October 1.
 
HIMSS Analytics Europe recently launched the European EMR Adoption Model and is currently surveying hospitals across 12 European countries. Initial findings will be presented at the upcoming Leadership Summit, alongside the announcement of the criteria needed to achieve the highest level of EMR adoption.
 
HIMSS officials explained that the European EMR Adoption Model has been adapted to meet the unique needs of European Healthcare Institutions and draws on the HIMSS Analytics US EMR Adoption Model which was developed in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics Database. Tracking their progress in completing eight stages (0-7), hospitals can review the implementation and utilization of information technology applications with the intent of reaching Stage 7, which represents an advanced electronic patient record environment.
     
Stage 7 hospitals:

• Deliver patient care without the use of paper charts
• Are able to share patient information by sending secure standardized summary record transactions to other care providers
• Use their vast database of clinical information to drive improved care delivery performance, patient safety clinical decision support, and outcomes using business intelligence solutions
• Are best practice examples of how to implement sophisticated EMR environments that fully engage their clinicians.

The validation process that confirms a hospital has reached Stage 7 includes a site visit conducted by an executive from HIMSS Analytics Europe and two current chief information officers to ensure an unbiased evaluation of the Stage 7 environments.
 
“Stage 7 hospitals provide best practices that other healthcare organizations can study and emulate as they strive to use EMR applications to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes and patient care delivery efficiency,” said Uwe Buddrus, General Manager, HIMSS Analytics Europe. “The accomplishments of Stage 7 hospitals serve as important indicators of high quality patient care with the interoperable electronic medical record in place.”