Mercy Health achieves highest level in electronic medical records while combating opioid epidemic

HIMSS recently recognized seven Mercy Health hospitals and all the organization’s ambulatory sites as Stage 7, as measured by the HIMSS Analytics Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM)^SM. This eight-stage (0-7) model measures the adoption and utilization of EMR function with hospitals and outpatient settings at Stage 7 operating in a near paperless environment that harnesses technology to support optimized patient care.

While Mercy Health’s ambulatory sites throughout Ohio and Kentucky are in the top 10 percent of all provider practices, Mercy Health – West Hospital, The Jewish Hospital – Mercy Health, Mercy Health – Urbana Hospital; Mercy Health – Defiance Hospital, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital, Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital and Mercy Health – Allen Hospital are part of an elite group of just six percent of all hospitals in the country to achieve Stage 7 on the EMRAM.

By harnessing the clinical data available through their electronic health record technology, Mercy Health is working to improve quality of care, patient safety and care delivery efficiency.

HIMSS cited Mercy Health’s efforts in combatting the opiate epidemic as a key example.

At Mercy Health-Springfield Regional Medical Center, an opiate-free emergency department pilot program was introduced to reduce overall pain prescriptions given in the emergency room by transitioning to other treatment alternatives for pain management. As a result, within the first 18 months of the initiative, there has already been a reduction in opioid prescriptions by 50%. As a result, Mercy Health is implementing this initiative across the entire system in Ohio and Kentucky throughout 2018.

HIMSS released a blog post focused on Mercy Health’s efforts; “The Opioid Epidemic: How Organizations like Mercy Health Are Fighting Back” that can be found via http://www.himss.org/news/opioid-epidemic-how-organizations-mercy-health-are-fighting-back

“At Mercy Health, the opiate crisis is a critical focus for us. Across all of our locations in Ohio and Kentucky, our clinical care teams are on the front lines working to combat the opiate crisis and  find solutions that will get those with addiction back to healthy living,” said Kelley Recker, vice president, CarePATH, Mercy Health. “By utilizing electronic health records technology and innovation, we saw an opportunity to address the issue at a key entry point for those seeking healthcare: our emergency departments. Leveraging the power of data and information allows us to provide better care, treatment and resources for all patients and their families.”

Mercy Health will be formally recognized at the 2018 HIMSS Global Conference & Exhibition, held from March 5-9, in Las Vegas.

About Mercy Health

Mercy Health is the largest health system in Ohio and one of the top five employers in the state, with more than 33,500 employees serving communities throughout Ohio and in Kentucky. Mercy Health provided care for patients more than 6.3 million times in 2016. The system includes assets of $6.3 billion and nearly 500 care sites, including 23 hospitals, eight senior living communities, five hospice programs and seven home health agencies. Its clinically integrated network, Mercy Health Select, coordinates more effective and efficient care for more than 200,000 patients, saving money for taxpayers through the Medicare Shared Savings program. In keeping with its mission to improve the health of its communities, Mercy Health provides nearly $1 million per day in community benefit services. For more information, visit www.mercy.com or connect with Mercy Health on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and Twitter (@LivingMercyHlth).