WakeMed to Implement Infrastructure for Electronic Patient Record
Solution Enables Communication Between Existing Best of Breed Information Technology Solutions
RALEIGH, N.C. – WakeMed Health & Hospitals announced it has signed a contract with Siemens Medical Solutions to implement Soarian® Clinical Solutions. The $15 million agreement will enable a comprehensive electronic patient record, greatly reducing the need for paper charts and improving patient care.
The new system will facilitate communication between the disparate information technology solutions currently in use in the hospital. “This project is the first step in WakeMed’s evolution to a fully electronic patient record and will improve the quality, speed and flow of information between the emergency department, surgery, endoscopy, laboratory, radiology an other hospital clinical systems,” commented Denton Arledge, WakeMed vice president of information services. “The end result will be improved patient care due to the immediate availability of information and enhanced workflow.”
WakeMed will undertake a phased implementation of the electronic patient record led by an interdisciplinary group of physician leaders, clinical staff and administration.
Access to clinical information will be available via a variety of hardware including PDAs, portable carts and tablet, portable and desktop computers. Special features will include voice recognition and remote logon so admitting or external physicians can track patient progress.
“We currently have some very strong specialized information technology solutions in individual departments. By implementing the Siemens system, WakeMed is able to take advantage of the specialized systems already in place and make them even more valuable clinical tools by linking the data all together,” Arledge continued. “We are confident that the physicians, nurses and support teams like infection control, respiratory care therapists and case managers will find the expedited access to information through one single system invaluable.”
Siemens Medical Solutions was selected following a competitive bid process.
