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Spectrum Health Named 2008 Most Wired Hospital

Patient satisfaction higher at Most Wired Hospitals

Spectrum Health hospitals rank among the nation’s Most Wired and Most Wireless, according to the results of the 2008 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study.

The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues.

Spectrum Health was honored in two categories-Most Wired and Most Wireless. This is the first time Spectrum Health has won these awards.

“This is recognition of the commitment Spectrum Health has made to implementing technology that can positively impact the quality and delivery of our services for patients and their families,” said Patrick O’Hare, senior vice president and chief information officer at Spectrum Health.

The 100 Most Wired hospitals show better outcomes in patient satisfaction, risk-adjusted mortality rates and other key quality measures through the use of information technology (IT), according to a study conducted by the AHA.

“Health IT has shown incredible promise in helping us improve the quality and safety of the care hospitals deliver every day,” said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association. “The results of the Most Wired survey confirm that today’s patient also understands the benefits of IT in improving care and improving the overall hospital experience.”

The study shows that better outcomes occur among high tech hospitals, but it does not establish a direct causal relationship between technology and outcomes. The satisfaction study was conducted jointly with Press Ganey Associates and the quality study was conducted jointly with Thomson Healthcare.

Marking its 10th year, the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study continues to lead the field in analyses and benchmarking of healthcare IT.  The study is presented in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks. More information is available at www.hhnmag.com.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through its seven hospitals, more than 140 service sites and 560,000-member health plan, Priority Health.  Spectrum Health’s 14,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care to those in medical need.  The organization provided $98.6 million in community benefit during its 2007 fiscal year. Spectrum Health has earned nearly 70 national awards during the past 10 years.