Impressive Level of Preparation

 

Dr. Trenor Williams

During the last 12 years I have been extremely fortunate to have participated in more than 100 electronic medical record go-lives. I am so impressed with the level of preparation at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and the investment made by the nurses, physicians, hospital executives and departmental leaders over the last several years. That's right – years.

I wish I could say that every hospital is as committed as the Hospital Center and dedicates the time and resources to these crucial efforts, but I can't. Dedicated individuals and leaders have been meeting weekly or biweekly to prepare for the go-live and focus on how to make the transition to advanced documentation and computerized physician order entry go as smoothly as possible.

The Hospital Center is special. The community of patients and all associates should be extremely proud of the work that has gone into this project.
 

This is an extremely important step in the journey. It's certainly not the end of the line. We all will continue to build upon this great foundation as the hospital moves forward and continually improve the system and our care delivery processes.
 

Trenor Williams, MD

CEO, Clinovations

The Cure for Bad Handwriting

Dr. Peter Hill

I’m not sure, but I think I’ve found the cure for doctors’ bad handwriting: electronic medical records.

As Chief Medical Information Officer at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a pulmonologist who first came to here in 1987, I am very pleased to confirm that our MedConnect electronic medical record system offers certain features that are especially welcomed by our nurse and medical tech colleagues. In particular, I would say “Computerized Physician Order Entry,” or CPOE, as we refer to it, is at the top of the welcome list for individuals whose work involves reading physician’s handwriting.

CPOE is a significant MedConnect safety feature. When I give instructions, or “orders,” for a patient to have a specific test done, or to increase his walking by 10 minutes each day, or to get out of bed, the bedside caregiver has clear typed instructions, no “figuring out” or deciphering handwriting is necessary. No time wasted about whether I ordered a CT with or without contrast, or how long the patient should walk, or when the patient should be discharged.

CPOE gives us all peace of mind that we are doing the right, safe thing for our patients.

Peter Hill, MD, Chief Medical Informatics Officer