Skaggs named ‘Most Wired’ hospital

The publication, which is the journal for the American Hospital Association, named Skaggs to the list for the fourth year in a row for its use of computer technology. Skaggs also was an Innovator Award finalist in the same publication for automation in its emergency department.

The top 25 list is based on the annual Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study, which asks hospitals to report on how they use information technology for safety and quality, customer service, business processes, work force, and public health and safety. Most of the 1,217 survey respondents were noted for their use of the Internet for patient convenience.

The survey generated technology statistics among the 100 most wired hospitals:

• 64 percent of the hospitals provide online health coaching for obesity, smoking and chronic conditions;

• 49 percent of hospitals allow patients to pre-register online for services, from scheduling tests to appointments;

• 32 percent of hospitals allow patients to check test results online;

• 99 percent of hospitals provide digital radiology in an inpatient setting;

• 92 percent of medical records at the 100 hospitals are available digitally; and

• 36 percent of medications are ordered electronically by physicians at the 100 hospitals.