Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta has been named as one 375 hospitals in the nation to have achieved “Most Wired” status by the American Hospital Association (AHA). As technology and health care delivery become more intertwined, the AHA has created an annual survey and criteria for designating hospitals that participate in the survey. LLUMC-Murrieta, which opened in April 2011, is a fully electronic hospital in all departments and has achieved a level of integration that is in the top tier of hospitals across the country.
“What this means to our patients is significant,” states CEO Rick Rawson. “We have invested a great deal into our electronic medical record and working on improving work-flow, reducing hand-offs, and improving patient experience. Essentially, our employees can focus on delivering excellent clinical care.”
Hospitals that achieve this designation have accomplished specific benchmarks in the areas of infrastructure, business and administrative management, clinical quality and safety, and clinical integration. The survey was created in 1999 to recognize and encourage hospitals as they journey into more advanced IT solutions and integration. The survey will continue to set a high standard for hospitals that are striving to improve patient care through advanced technology. One other hospital in the Inland Empire also achieved this designation, Eisenhower Medical Center.
“It is gratifying that the hospital’s investment and focus on people, process, and technology is recognized by this Most Wired award,” says Doug Leeper, executive director of IT. “We will continue to improve and enhance our automation solutions to facilitate compassionate, effective, and high-quality health care for our community.”
The AHA is a nonprofit association of health care provider organizations and individuals who are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, and other providers of care. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit www.aha.org.