Meridian Health Pilots Electronic Tra...( CHICAGO April 7 /- HIMSS -- Infotech ...),Health

CHICAGO, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- HIMSS -- Infotech Global, Inc. (IGI) announced today that after months of planning and training, Meridian Health, a not-for-profit health system in Central New Jersey is piloting the electronic version of the draft Universal Transfer Form (UTF).

The draft UTF was tested with providers in five regions in its hard copy version in 2008. This work was made possible through the cooperative efforts of the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA), the Health Care Association of New Jersey and many other provider representatives, stakeholders, the Department of Health and Senior Services and Rutgers University.

While the paper pilot was occurring IGI, a New Jersey based information technology company, worked to create an electronic version of the tool. The search for a health system that had many provider types where the electronic UTF could be trialed led to Meridian.

NJHA and the other partners in this effort thank the nursing and management teams at Meridian's Riverview Medical Center and Riverview Rehabilitation Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Meridian at Home and Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers for the time and energy they dedicated to this project.

As the pilot progresses, stakeholders will look at trends and examine utilization of the UTF to prepare a comprehensive evaluation. The ultimate goal is to offer providers the option of using the UTF electronically when discharging patients to other healthcare settings.

As the pilot moves forward, so too does the work with DHSS to develop the regulations that will govern the implementation of the UTF statewide for all providers licensed by DHSS. NJHA is working closely on this important aspect of the project.

In addition, NJHA will continue to work with the Health Care Association of New Jersey and other stakeholders to keep
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