Prime Healthcare Services Recognized for Implementing IT to Improve Patient Safety and Quality of Care

Ontario, CA-based Prime Healthcare Services, one of the top 10 hospital management companies, Prime Healthcare hospitals announced that it has earned recognition from HIMSS Analytics, the provider of most trusted health care industry database.

In a press release, Prime Healthcare services announced that HIMSS Analytics in February will be honoring Prime Healthcare hospitals for their initiatives aimed at improving patient safety and care through the implementation of technology.

The hospitals will be recognized at The HIMSS12 Annual Conference & Exhibition, which will be held on February 21-24, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sands Convention Center, the officials further revealed.

With its EMR Adoption Model, HIMSS Analytics evaluates the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics Database. The progress is tracked through seven stages. Based on the scores in progress report, the hospitals can decide to review the implementation and utilization of information technology applications with the intent of reaching Stage 7. The final stage represents an advanced patient record environment.

Eleven Prime Healthcare Services hospitals and both of the hospitals from the affiliated non-profit Prime Healthcare Services Foundation achieved the Stage 6 designation of the HIMSS Analytics Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Adoption Models.

The Prime Healthcare Services hospitals recognized are Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Chino Valley Medical Center, Desert Valley Hospital, Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center, Huntington Beach Hospital, La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, Paradise Valley Hospital, San Dimas Community Hospital, Shasta Regional Medical Center, Sherman Oaks Hospital Medical Center and West Anaheim Medical Center. The Foundation's non-profit Encino Hospital and Montclair Hospital Medical Center were also recognized.

It is rare certification to achieve as currently, only 256 hospitals (4.8 percent) in the United States, and only 269 hospitals in the world, carry a Stage 6 designation.

“We know that it takes executive commitment, support and a great team of health care professionals to achieve this advanced level.  These hospitals are great examples of how a vision can become reality in the world of health care information technology,” President and CEO HIMSS Analytics H. Stephen Lieber noted in a statement.

Earlier this year, FormFast, a leading provider of enterprise workflow solutions announced an expansion of its partnership with Prime Healthcare Services, the largest for-profit hospital system in California and the only for-profit system among Thomson Reuters' Top 10 Health Systems in 2009. All 14 facilities managed by Prime Healthcare Services and its affiliates leverage FormFast's logic-based and on-demand document management workflow for increased efficiency within the organization's medical records, revenue cycle and patient registration processes.