The transition from paper to electronic files in patient records is a move Wrangell Medical Center is currently in the middle of completing – thanks to the implementation of a new, computerized record keeping system at the hospital.
According to WMC Chief Executive Officer Marla Sanger, the conversion from paper to digital is currently being implemented.
“WMC continues to make progress with the electronic medical record,” Sanger wrote in her monthly report to the WMC Board of Trustees during their May 15 regular meeting. “The large number of visitors and activities the first week in May prompted a postponement of the April 29 start date for implementing the Critical Access Hospital features of our CPSI computer system. Monday, May 6 was chosen as the new date, which meant implementation of the Critical Access Hospital features at the same time WMC had planned to begin using the Emergency Department documentation.”
Sanger added that physicians and staff are adapting to this dual implementation – one that she said, “will contribute to getting the right information onto the right accounts for patients who move from one status to another.”
Additionally, Emergency Department documentation will now become part of the electronic medical record, with Sanger stating that reducing mistakes will also be a big part of the transition.
“There are many reasons we are moving into the digital age with our medical record but the most compelling may be the potential for error reduction, the ability to improve clarity of physician orders and an increased ability to capture meaningful information,” Sanger added. “This information along with electronically captured quality data can guide improvements in care for individual patients as well as raising the bar on quality for all of our patients and residents.”
A report of the actions taken by the board during their May 15 meeting will be published in next week’s Wrangell Sentinel.
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