Glades General Hospital (GGH) is leading Palm Beach Countyand in some cases the State of Floridain health care technological advances that will directly benefit patient care and safety. The implementation of multiple cutting-edge systems and upgrades will also improve the hospitals efficiencies as it moves toward a completely paperless environment.
GGH is the pilot site for the statewide All-Care System, a shared data computer registry program that will enable physicians to access patients medical documentation and history from any hospital within the All-Care network. GGH will implement the secure internet-based system in August 2008 under Chief Information Officer Adam Levenson. “As the lead hospital for the All-Care System, we will be able to share our learning with other hospitals in the state and demonstrate the significant benefits of system-wide access to critical information,” said Levenson. “When a patient arrives at our hospital, we can immediately access his medical history and current medicationsimportant information that will help us protect the health of the patient and provide the best possible care,” said Levenson.
Glades General Hospitals Chief Information Officer Adam Levenson working on the hospitals network infrastructure.
Levenson was recently awarded the “Heroes of Healthcare Award” by Health Management Systems, Inc. as one of six honorees chosen from more than 500 hospitals nationwide for his leadership in instituting cutting-edge technological advances. With a $3.5 million investment from the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, which owns and operates GGH, Levenson has implemented several other new systems and upgrades to make Glades General what he calls “a showcase hospital” for advanced healthcare technologies.
GGH was the first in Palm Beach County to register births at bedside with the Electronic Birth Registry (EBR) system in 2007. GGH has automated and accelerated the process of registering births, reducing costs and processing time. The EBR system also allows staff to communicate with the Healthy Start program, which provides assistance to qualified mothers. GGH is the only hospital in Palm Beach County to have achieved 100 percent compliance with the Healthy Start screening program for the past three years.
“The technological advances at Glades General Hospital are complimented by our dedicated, compassionate staff of healthcare professionals,” said Ron Wiewora, M.D., interim Chief Executive Officer of Glades General Hospital and Chief Medical Officer of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. “Our staff includes many veterans who serve in leadership positions in the hospital and have cared for generations of residents in the community.”
Other technological advances are enhancing convenience for medical staff and safety for patients. A centralized scheduling system allows physicians’ offices to make one call to schedule radiology, surgery, respiratory and lab services. Upgrades to the radiology picture archiving communication system (PAC) allow doctors to review all radiology procedures in real time from their office or home. A web-based interface allows doctors and nurses to view and track a patients record including vital signs, lab work, radiology reports, administration of medications and more all in one program.
The hospitals advanced information system “HMS” (HealthCare Management Systems) technology is certified at the highest level by the CCHIT (Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology.) The Certification Commission is a recognized certification body for electronic health records and their networks.
Looking ahead, Glades General is on track to be a “paperless” hospital long before it is required of all hospitals in the nation in 2014. The advances come at a time when a new regional hospital is under construction in the Glades to replace GGH, Palm Beach Countys only public hospital. “We are preparing today for the hospital of tomorrow,” said Michael J. Gates, the Health Care Districts Senior Development Executive, who is charged with developing the new hospital and medical campus. “With a new, modern healthcare delivery system supported by industry-leading technologies, we will set a new standard for public healthcare.” The Health Care District of Palm Beach County has committed $50 million toward the construction of the new 70-bed hospital with a scheduled opening in early 2010. Glades Healthcare Foundation is leading the capital campaign to raise the remaining funds for the $73 million facility.
