Economy Forces Most Wired Hospitals to Look Closely at I... ( CHICAGO July 7 /- The economic crisis...)

Economy Forces Most Wired Hospitals to Look Closely at IT Spending

Date:7/6/2009

CHICAGO, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The economic crisis is forcing many hospitals to make tough decisions with scarce resources, including delaying and scaling down information technology (IT) projects, according to a newly released survey of America's "most wired" hospitals and health systems. While progress has been made and incentives to implement IT will be available through the recently passed stimulus legislation, many hospitals still have a long way to go.

The 100 Most Wired hospitals are torn between building on their IT successes and keeping a sharp eye on budgets. Marking its 11th year, the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study continues to lead the field in analyses and benchmarking of healthcare IT.

"The economic slowdown is forcing hospitals to look closely at IT spending," says Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. "Most Wired hospitals are doing their best to stay the course."

To complicate matters, the great unknown of health care reform looms in the near future and a number of regulatory changes are already heading down the pike, including the shift to ICD-10.

"As the health reform debate continues, it's clear that IT will play an even more important role in the health system of tomorrow," says Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA). "Most Wired hospitals help illustrate IT in action--improving efficiency, quality and safety of care while helping to control costs."

Hospitals also continue to invest in IT that supports quality and safety initiatives. Investment in electronic medication management is considered one of the fundamentals of using IT to improve care. The 2009 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study shows an overall increase in both provider order entry of medications and electronic bedside matching at the time medications are administered.

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine news :

1. Local Company Offers Micro-Businesses Fortune 500-Style Administrative Services in a Competitive Economy
2. Wound Care Certification Program Gives Healthcare Sales Professionals Competitive Edge in Tough Economy
3. Lotus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Exhibit at the 2009 International Conference for Bioeconomy
4. TransUnion Revenue Manager(SM) Meets Healthcare Challenges Brought On By Todays Economy with New Features
5. VSPs Individual Plan Thrives in a Starving Economy
6. Economy Makes Employee Assistance Programs More Important Than Ever
7. New mtvU & Associated Press Poll Shows How Stress, the Economy & Other Factors are Affecting College Students Mental Health
8. Americans Skimp on Healthy Activities in Bad Economy
9. Is There a Nutritional Upside to a Down Economy?
10. Economy Impacts People Seeking Treatment for Addiction - 80% Increase Over Last Year
11. Do a Show on Money, Marriage and Mental Health in a Tough Economy

Post Your Comments:

Economy Forces Most Wired Hospitals to Look Closely at I...( CHICAGO July 7 /- The economic crisis...),Health