CMH, Mercy rank in 'Most Wired' list

Bolivar-based Citizens Memorial Healthcare and Chesterfield-based Sisters of Mercy Health System - parent company of St. John's - were named among the nation's 100 "Most Wired" hospitals and health systems in the 2011 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study published in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.

CMH has been named in the unranked annual study seven times - four times on the overarching Most Wired list and three times as Most Wired in the small and rural hospital category, according to a news release.

"This recognition confirms that the CMH investment in technology is in the best interest of our patients and community," CMH Chief Information Officer Denni McColm said in the release. "To achieve this recognition requires that CMH not only maintains but also expands and improves our use of computerization to enable safe, effective and efficient delivery of healthcare."

The study analyzes hospitals based on their use of information technology for patient satisfaction, risk-adjusted mortality rates and other areas, such as electronic health records.

CMH partners with Google Health to allow patients easier access to their personal health records. In March, when CMH enabled the service, it was the first rural hospital to have teamed up with Google Health, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Mercy began its conversion to an electronic medical record system about five years ago. The system allows caregivers within any of the health system's 28 hospitals to have access to patient medical information. Through the MyMercy Internet portal, patients also can view lab results, radiology transcriptions and more, according to SBJ archives.

Other Missouri health systems that made the Most Wired list are:

• Saint Luke's Health System, Kansas City;
• Truman Medical Centers, Kansas City; and
• University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia.

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