from DSSResources.comPenn State Hershey Medical Center and Cerner implement state-of-the-art electronic medical record system; medical center at the forefront of healthcare IT to boost safety and qualityKANSAS CITY, Mo. & HERSHEY, Pa., June 30, 2005 -- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Cerner Corp. announce the successful implementation of the Medical Center's electronic medical record (EMR) system. The conversion comes as lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), introduce legislation to promote healthcare information technology and as Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt plans to create an advisory committee to accelerate adoption of EMRs. "Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Cerner are both dedicated to elevating the quality of healthcare," said David S. Hefner, executive director and chief operating officer of Penn State Hershey Medical Center. "Cerner's technology connects our clinicians with the latest patient care data at the point of care, giving them a valuable tool to assist in making informed, evidence-based practice decisions. The result is even safer, higher-quality care. Less than 10 percent of hospitals in the nation have integrated their caregivers with this kind of information technology, and we are extremely proud to be among this elite group." Using Cerner Millennium(R) solutions, more than 12,000 orders are being placed each day at the Medical Center. Cerner Millennium solutions are designed to improve quality and safety, infusing the order process with embedded clinical knowledge to provide timely, accurate, situation-specific decision support and guidance. Almost 1,000 faculty, residents and staff at the Medical Center are placing virtually 100 percent of their orders online with enhanced medication checks in place. Cerner's computerized physician order entry (CPOE) solution enables the Medical Center to unify its medication management process, bringing the physician, pharmacist and nurse together from order through administration. "Penn State Hershey Medical Center is leading the way in implementing greater safety measures by automating its healthcare processes," said Dick Flanigan, president, Cerner North Atlantic. "Cerner is proud to team with the Medical Center to offer the information technology that will help deliver the best care to the three million residents of central Pennsylvania." Cerner delivers real benefits, with more than 3,900 Cerner Millennium solutions live with nearly 300 clients at 780 facilities around the world. In addition, Cerner's acute-care EMR has won top honors for the past two years at the Toward an Electronic Patient Record (TEPR) conference. Penn State Hershey Medical Center is one of the leading teaching and research hospitals in the nation, with 479 licensed beds and more than 25,000 admissions and more than 785,000 patient encounters each year. The campus also includes Penn State Children's Hospital, the region's only children's hospital, and Penn State College of Medicine. The Medical Center also is a "Top 15 Connected Healthcare Facility," according to Health Imaging & IT magazine. "We look forward to building on the success of this project with Cerner as Penn State Hershey Medical Center takes additional and innovative steps to enhance care," said Hefner. "Our strong relationship with Cerner will continue to grow as we strive to set an example for the nation as it turns to healthcare IT as a solution to the challenges facing healthcare." Cerner Corp. is taking the paper chart out of healthcare, eliminating error, variance and waste in the care process. With more than 1,500 clients worldwide, Cerner is the leading supplier of healthcare information technology. The following are trademarks of Cerner: Cerner, Cerner Millennium, Cerner's logo. NASDAQ:CERN, www.cerner.com. Elizabeth McKinley, 816-201-7738 elizabeth.mckinley@cerner.com |