Fletcher Allen, a Vermont university hospital and medical center, serves all of
Vermont and the northern New York region. Located in Burlington, Fletcher Allen is a regional, academic healthcare center and teaching hospital in alliance with the University of Vermont.
Fletcher Allen Launches Electronic Health Record System to Improve Quality, Safety and Efficiency of Care
F O R R E L E A S E:
Immediate (June 11, 2009)
C O N T A C T:
Michael Carrese
Marketing and Communications
802-847-2886
BURLINGTON, VT – Fletcher Allen successfully completed the first phase of its electronic health record (EHR) project this week, joining only 1.5% of health care facilities nationwide to implement such a comprehensive computer system for patient care. * The system is now “live” in Fletcher Allen’s inpatient areas, pharmacy, Emergency Department, and some hospital outpatient areas on the Medical Center Campus in Burlington, as well as the Walk-In Care Center and inpatient rehabilitation service at the Fanny Allen Campus in Colchester.Fletcher Allen providers and staff are now using the system to record all vital patient medical information and to administer medications.
PRISM (Patient Record and Information Systems Management) is essentially a computer system that replaces paper medical records, charts and other items with a single electronic file for each patient. (please see attached Fact Sheet for details) There are several key reasons health care experts believe EHRs will improve the quality, safety and efficiency of patient care:
- All medical information for each patient is in one place and all providers can see it at the same time from different clinical locations, so it’s easier to coordinate care.
- The system alerts providers about drug allergies or conflicts with patient medications making them instantly aware of potential problems.
- Medical staff will spend less time doing paperwork and tracking down charts, x-rays, MRIs and other information that is essential for providing timely care.
“I’ve been involved in many aspects of bringing EHR’s online at four other health care facilities across the country and I’m pleased and impressed with how smoothly the process has been at Fletcher Allen,” said Sandi Dalton, Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. “There have been some minor delays in providing care as technical issues were addressed, but patients have not dealt with major disruptions in their care, and our medical staff and employees are handling the transition well despite the stress of learning a new way of doing things,” she said. PRISM has extensive security features built-in to make sure patient privacy is maintained. The only staff authorized to see medical information are providers who need to see it to do their jobs. Other hospital employees – like those in registration or billing – cannot see medical information.
In addition, PRISM records cannot be e-mailed or put on the internet, and the system is constantly monitored to make sure no one is gaining unauthorized access.“The new PRISM system is a major step forward in patient care,” said John Brumsted, M.D., Chief Quality Officer. “The improvements in safety, efficiency and coordination of care will enhance quality and the overall patient experience. This is the future of health care, and I’m proud Fletcher Allen is bringing this leading edge technology to our community,” he added. The next phase of the project will expand PRISM to the oncology department and will introduce a secure, web-based portal called “My Chart,” which will allow patients to view parts of their health record, schedule appointments, request medication renewals and research medical conditions.
The second phase also involves developing a data warehouse for reporting and analysis, to be completed by December 2009. The final stage of implementation will focus on the outpatient (also known as ambulatory) service areas, and patient scheduling. This will be completed by the end of 2010.
* According to a nationwide hospital survey published in the March 2009 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, only 10.9% of U.S. hospitals have implemented a basic Electronic Health Record, and only 1.5% have implemented a comprehensive Electronic Health Record like PRISM.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org. ###
PRISM FACT SHEET
Fletcher Allen’s Electronic Health Record System The development of an electronic health record is a critical, clinical process that will help Fletcher Allen improve quality and enhance safety while protecting the security and confidentiality of our patients' health information. According to a nationwide hospital survey published in the March 2009 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, only 10.9% of U.S. hospitals have implemented a basic Electronic Health Record, and only 1.5% have implemented a comprehensive Electronic Health Record like PRISM.
What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system?
All of your health information, including medical charts, treatment notes and prescription orders, are converted from paper files to a single electronic record housed on a computer-based software application. Your EHR can be retrieved by all providers on your care team –whether at Fletcher Allen or practicing in the community – to facilitate coordination of care.
What is PRISM (Patient Record and Information Systems Management)?
In 2008, Fletcher Allen received state approval to begin a $57 million, three-year phased implementation of an electronic health record system, called PRISM, which will connect virtually every key function in the organization. When completed, PRISM will allow patients' clinical information to be electronically stored, updated and accessed instantaneously, largely replacing the paper medical record in use today. The PRISM project will serve 750 physicians credentialed at Fletcher Allen, and its more than 30 facilities in Vermont. PRISM will be compatible with other health records systems in the state, making it a critical element in the statewide, integrated, electronic health infrastructure being coordinated through Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL).
What are the benefits of PRISM to patients, and how will it affect their care experience?
- Enhanced Quality and Safety Measures – PRISM includes built-in, automatic checks in the electronic system to safeguard against undesirable medication and allergy interactions and incorrect dosage amounts, improving patient safety and helping us to provide you with the best care possible.
- Confidential and Secure – Patient privacy will be guarded through built-in protections within the electronic health record to prevent security breaches. The only staff authorized to see medical information are providers who need to see it to do their jobs. Other hospital employees – like those in registration or billing – cannot see medical information. In addition, PRISM records cannot be e-mailed or put on the internet, and the system is constantly monitored to make sure no one is gaining unauthorized access.
- One Patient, One Record –All members of your care team can access your electronic record at the same time from separate clinical locations, creating a faster and more seamless care experience for you.
- Convenient Access to Your Health Information – PRISM will eventually include a customizable web-based portal where you can quickly and easily view your health record, schedule appointments, view lab results, request medication renewals, and view your children's medical records. This feature is called MyChart, and will be available in late 2009.
- Improved Communication Between Providers – PRISM enables the medical providers on your care team, including referring providers, to communicate quickly and efficiently about your care, through shared access to your electronic health record.
- Shorter Medication Processing Time – Using an electronic health record ensures a shorter processing time between when a medication is ordered and when you, as a patient, will receive it. Prescription orders are sent electronically to your pharmacy, eliminating the step of patients having to drop them off.
