Avera Named to 2007 Most Wired Listing

Avera is again on the 100 "Most Wired" and 25 "Most Wireless" lists, according to the results of the 2007 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study released in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. Avera is the only health system in the nation to make both lists every year running since their inception ("Most Wired" in 1999 and "Most Wireless" in 2004). Avera is the only organization in the nation to achieve "Most Wired" for nine consecutive years.

"The survey is a call to action for health care systems to drive change and enhance clinical outcomes," noted Avera Senior Vice President of Information Systems, Jim Veline. "This is evidence that Avera is one of the nation's top providers, delivering high-quality results and better care."

The nation's 100 Most Wired hospitals show better outcomes in four key areas: mortality rates, patient safety measures from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), core measures from Hospital Compare and average length of stay. Based on analysis of the ninth annual Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study results, hospitals are embracing technology as a key tool for health care quality improvements.

"Many hospitals have made strong commitments to using information technology to improve the quality of care," says Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA). "They are combining technology with clinical knowledge and creativity with a focus on improving outcomes, and making care safer and more streamlined for both patients and clinicians."

Hospitals investing in quality are also investing in IT. "The Most Wired hospitals are focused on quality," says Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospital & Health Networks. The analysis does not establish a direct causal relationship between technology and outcomes, however, health care organizations are looking to measure trends documenting better outcomes.

"The continued adoption of technology for clinical systems in health care is driving rapid change and great outcomes," said Lewis Redd, managing partner, Accenture Health & Life Sciences North American Provider Practice and one of the 2007 Survey sponsors. "The leaders in the field are already showing us how technology can help connect hospitals with their patients and enhance clinical outcomes. This survey is a call to action."

Sunny Sanyal, chief operating officer for McKesson Provider Technologies, adds that the strategic use of IT to drive quality and performance is becoming more common. "The use of IT to automate, measure and connect healthcare is clearly helping many organizations to improve their performance," he says. "Looking ahead, we see increased use of analytics and connectivity to drive better outcomes, increased efficiency, greater patient satisfaction and ultimately, a stronger competitive position."

The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation's hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues.

Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2007 survey in cooperation with Accenture, McKesson Corp. and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

About the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study

Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, conducts the voluntary Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study annually and names the 100 Most Wired.

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.

McKesson Corporation is the world's largest healthcare services, technology and automation company.

CHIME was formed with the dual objective of serving the professional development needs of healthcare chief information officers and advocating the more effective use of information management within health care.