PITTSBURGH – Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, an affiliate of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, is the first pediatric hospital in the nation to achieve Stage 7 certification from the HIMSS Analytics EMR Adoption Model (EMRAM).

Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) officials said the hospital will recognized at the HIMSS10 Annual Conference & Exhibition next March in Atlanta.

The Stage 7 award is based on the EMRAM, developed by HIMSS Analytics in 2005, and represents the highest level of HIT adoption and deployment, said HIMSS officials.

HIMSS Analytics developed EMRAM to track the impact that electronic medical records have on hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics database. HIMSS officials said the model includes eight stages (0–7) with each stage representing an advanced EMR 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 a vast database of clinical information to drive improved care delivery performance, patient safety clinical decision support and outcomes using business intelligence solutions; and
• Are best-practice examples of how to implement sophisticated EMR environments that fully engage clinicians.

“Being recognized as the first HIMSS Stage 7 pediatric hospital in the nation is a real testament to the dedication and commitment of the physicians and employees of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the UPMC information technology teams,” said Christopher Gessner, president of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. “The automation of clinical information across the continuum of care is a highly complex and challenging undertaking that can only be accomplished through outstanding teamwork and we’re extremely proud of this achievement.”

The process for achieving Stage 7 includes an on-site inspection conducted by a HIMSS Analytics official and two chief information officers from other hospitals.

“As more healthcare organizations move toward EMR implementation, the Stage 7 hospitals offer valuable best practices focused on using EMR applications to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes and patient care delivery efficiency,” said Mike Davis, executive vice president of HIMSS Analytics. “The accomplishments of Stage 7 hospitals can be reviewed and emulated by other U.S. hospitals striving to implement an interoperable electronic medical record.”

“Our investment in a comprehensive electronic health record and full automation leads directly to improvements in patient safety and quality,” said Gessner. “With the capabilities we now have at our digital campus, we will continue to improve clinical outcomes through the blending of cutting-edge technology and compassionate, family-centered care.”