Analysis

Introduction:

   Healthcare institutions are confronted with an uphill battle, on a slippery slope. They face unprecedented challenges daily while having to adjust to new regulations, cope with decreasing compensation and survive the ongoing recession. Due to the volatile nature of the healthcare industry well establish organizations are force to adapt frequently or risk becoming irrelevant. These changes are a direct result of technological enhancement and its integration into the healthcare system resulting in innovation, efficiency, profitability and better service and care. Federal and State government are on the forefront of these initiatives, rewarding organizations who adapt voluntarily and penalizing those who fail to take action. One such initiative is the implementation of EMR (electronic medical records). Somerset Medical Center have invested upwards of $10 million since 2004, upgrading its Information Technology System. This included computerized physician order entry system, EMR, and a picture archiving and communication system.

Collaboration:

   Somerset Medical Center’s clinical system utilizes the Cerner Millennium Platform and its various modules to implement and foster collaboration within the organization. The PowerChart solution module accumulates and integrate all related patient information in the areas of prevention, detection, treatment, research and reporting. It then generates a single lifetime EMR in Cerner with an attached concise patient summary.  This is accessible by all care provider and administrative personnel within the organization; nurses, pharmacists, physicians, billing, housekeeping and food & nutrition. Medical personnel can also specify specific patient summary and flow sheet with the option of an interactive staging component to produce relevant information and minimize unnecessary data. The system further enables patient medication management. With the added benefit of Cerner Cloud, primary care physician are notify when their patients are admitted. They are also provided full on demand access to their patient’s status and history within the Cerner EMR. Cerner also provide integration and support for their platform on a variety of mobile devices, enabling all medical staff full access to patient monitors and current information which are vital for collaboration and in making critical decisions.

Silos:

   Silos exist when Information Management Systems cannot or do not communicate freely. Usually resulting from a vertical communication of information that impedes unrelated systems from communicating effectively. Somerset Medical Center relies on Cerner EMR integrated database solution to eliminate and prevent silos. EMR Database provides an array of tools and functions that enables electronic input, storage and access to all medical provider both within and outside the organization. Patients test results, clinical data and status are all provided in real time from a single unified source. The system is accessible from a multitude of electronic devices via the cloud while adhering to JCAHO requirements for patient confidentiality and security. The benefit of eliminating information silos were very apparent in our case study of Somerset Medical Center. They realized patient care satisfaction improvement – care providers can focus more on their patients care/services and increase in efficiency – increased access to current information enables quick and effective decisions.

INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS

   An information system encompasses Hardware, Software, Data, Procedures and People. It is a set of related components that collects data, process data and provide information. Evident from our case study of Somerset Medical Center these components are critical to sustaining operation and function within the organization. It is also essential for all components to be actively working together, given their inherent inter-dependency.

Hardware:

   Hardware are physical components, comprising primarily of server, printer, keyboard, monitor, processor and mobile devices, working together to input, process and display data and information. Somerset Medical Center rely on an assortment of hardware which includes 1600+ PC’s (desktop, laptop & winterm devices), 300+ printers, 100+ med-carts, iPhones, iPads and an assortment of network infrastructure. Over the past few years they have consolidated their Data Center migrating it over to a cloud based system. Thereby significantly reducing downtime, cost, inefficiency and risk. 

Software:

   Software are the functional component for hardware that instructs and control its resources. Somerset Medical Center utilize three main software programs. Microsoft Windows 7 operating system is used predominantly for their personal computers. Microsoft Office 2010 Professional is widely use throughout the organization for productivity and administrative functions. However as a healthcare institution the clinical application system is the most important software within the organization. Their system is based on the Cerner Millennium Platform which is provided and supported by Cerner Corporation. The primary benefit of the Cerner platform is its elasticity, compatibility and the implementations of module base solutions. The Cerner Millennium Platform provides a customizable solution by allowing organizations to choose which modules they would like to implement. Cerner modules provide solution catered to every facet of healthcare. 

Data:

   Data are a compilation of raw recorded facts, figures, tables and or statistics. In the healthcare industry information is critical therefore the data utilize must be accessible, relevant, accurate and current in every situation.  Somerset Medical Center implement an Electronic Medical Record integrated database, hosted by Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, MO. The database integrates seamlessly into the Cerner clinical system which then generates meaningful data or information. Furthermore it provides an assortment of efficient fostering functions which includes broad compatibility across various platforms, silo prevention, web based access and proactive monitor, support and securities.

Procedures:

   Procedures are instructions or commands used to obtain a desire output from the hardware, software and data components. The main goal of all healthcare institution are primarily the same, admit a person requiring medical care, administer care and discharge patient as efficiently as possible. Somerset Medical Center have implemented multiple resources to educate and train its employee and patient alike. They established the “Get Well Network” an interactive educational resource for patients. Once a patient is checked into a room, CERNER initiate a customize “Get Well Network” process specific to the patient and play scheduled videos designed to educate the patient on SMC procedures, information on their diagnosed condition, what to expect during their stay and helpful tips pertaining to their health condition they can practice at home. SMC implementation for employee’s education and training is primarily through Cerner own and operated ucern online resource, Executable Knowledge – an integrated medical terminology standards, Advance Care Documentation – training access to activities such as viewing data, update orders and receiving notifications  and P2Sentinel - module that tracts and records end user access to confidential patient data.

People:

   People are End Users – customer, employees and physicians and System Personnel – database admin, system analyst and system designer.  People are the human capital by which all other components rely on to function, exist and serve. Somerset Medical Center recognize that people are its most valuable and indispensable asset. They implement various measures to attract and retain this capital by providing a favorable working environment, rewarding compensation packages, training and career advancement opportunities.