At Daviess Community Hospital, final preparations are being made to say goodbye to paper charts and hello to electronic medical records. The hospital is counting off the days to the “go live” date of Monday, September 13th when the new electronic medical record or EMR system will be launched and fully implemented.
The EMR implementation, which has been years in the making, means that a nurse or physician can access their patients' medical information anywhere they are, and at anytime, to deliver care.
When the EMR system becomes fully implemented, any patient that visits Daviess Community Hospital will have his or her electronic medical record accessible in both the clinic and hospital settings.
The hospital expects the new EMR system to result in greater patient safety and time efficiency in providing care, enabling caregivers to automatically cross check medications against other prescribed drugs, diagnoses, and lab results. It also is expected to bring substantial cost savings in the use of paper.
“We have been testing the system over the past few months, and so far, we have been able to overcome minor technical difficulties,” says Clint Goodwin, DCH Electronic Health Record Project Manager. “We expect the go live day to go smoothly, although departments are planning to have personnel available all that week in case any issues occur.”
For patients, the change to the new EMR will mean hospital personnel will be required to verify all patient identification, insurance, medication lists, and contacts. “We will be entering and verifying all patient information to be sure everything is correct,” says Goodwin.
“Anyone who comes to the hospital needs to bring a form of identification, their insurance cards, and a list of medications. If parents are bringing their children, they also need to bring proof of custody.”
Like the hospital’s previous computer system, safeguards are in place to protect patient privacy. “Only medical personnel involved in treatment are allowed to access the records,” says Goodwin. “So, patients should feel safe and comfortable knowing that even with the new system, the same privacy rules are in place and are being followed.” | 
Clint Goodwin, DCH Project Manager (center) and hospital Information Systems team members, Jenny Thompson, RN, (right) and Craig Ballengee (left) make a final check of a computer that will be used to document patient care information in the Intensive Care Unit. DCH will begin using the new electronic medical record (EMR) system on September 13. In order to help hospital personnel verify information in the new system, patients are being asked to bring identification, insurance cards, and other information with them to the hospital. |