Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Named 2008 Most Wired Hospital

JASPER, Ga. (July 21, 2008) – Piedmont Mountainside Hospital has been named one of the nation’s Most Wired hospitals, according to the results of the 2008 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study released in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.  Three of the four Georgia hospitals named to the list are part of the Piedmont Healthcare system.

This is the first year for Piedmont Mountainside Hospital to be named in the small and rural category.  In 2006, it was named among the Most Improved.  Piedmont Fayette Hospital has been recognized for four consecutive years, while Piedmont Hospital has been named for five consecutive years

“We are proud the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study has recognized Piedmont Mountainside Hospital for the first time as a Most Wired hospital, after being recognized as a Most Improved hospital two years ago,” said Mike Robertson, interim president and CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital.  “This recognition demonstrates Piedmont Mountainside’s commitment to using the latest information technology to improve quality and patient care.”

The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems.  The purpose of the study is to promote the effective use of information technology in achieving clinical and operational excellence.  It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues.

“Today’s results add to the growing evidence that the appropriate use of IT can enhance both quality and patient satisfaction,” said Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.  “Most Wired hospitals are proving the fundamental value of information technology.”

The nation’s 100 Most Wired hospitals show better outcomes in four key areas: mortality rates, patient safety measures from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), core measures from Hospital Compare, and average length of stay.  Based on analysis of the tenth annual Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study results, hospitals are embracing technology as a key tool for healthcare quality improvements.

“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.”

Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2008 survey in cooperation with Accenture, McKesson Corp. and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives.  The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

About the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study

Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, conducts the voluntary Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study annually and names the 100 Most Wired.

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.

McKesson Corporation is the world’s largest healthcare services, technology and automation company.

CHIME was formed with the dual objective of serving the professional development needs of healthcare chief information officers and advocating the more effective use of information management within health care.