Banner Boswell, Banner Del E. Webb enhance patient safety with electronic medical record system
SUN CITY, Ariz. (Nov. 5, 2010) – Banner Boswell and Banner Del E. Webb medical centers recently completed a large-scale conversion from paper medical records to electronic medical records (EMR) to integrate the most advanced digital patient record system in Arizona and among the most advanced systems in the country.
An electronic medical record (EMR) is an electronic version of the traditional paper-based medical record. It contains a patient’s complete health history, from immunizations and allergies to surgeries and diagnoses.
All patient information in the hospital is now documented electronically. Any information that must be written on paper is scanned into the system to ensure a completely digitized electronic medical record. Each patient’s EMR at Banner Boswell and Banner Del E. Webb includes information such as test and imaging results, medication history and physician notes, in addition to information related to previous care received at other Banner facilities.
“The electronic medical record supports our efforts to provide the highest levels of quality and safety for every patient, every time,” said David Cheney, CEO, Banner Boswell Medical Center. “Because health information is now in a highly secure electronic format and just a click away, health care providers will no longer need to search or wait for a patient chart or other information.”
“EMR is the future of health care available right here today,” said John Harrington, CEO, Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center. “Accurate patient health information helps physicians and other care givers deliver better, safer care that makes an even greater difference in our patient’s lives. The EMR resides on secure servers and can be viewed only by authorized personnel.”
“The installation of EMR at Banner Boswell and Del E. Webb Medical Centers was a major commitment by Banner Health through the purchase of the hospitals from Sun Health,” explained Ron Guziak, CEO of Sun Health. “The Sun Health Board of Directors is very pleased that this has been accomplished ahead of schedule. EMR is important for patient safety and helps continue the 40 year tradition of providing superior healthcare to all of our patients. This accomplishment is just another example of how the partnership between Sun Health and Banner Health continues to provide additional opportunities to meet the needs of our community.”
Banner Health will become one of the first hospital systems in the country to complete the full conversion to EMR when all 23 Banner Health hospitals in seven states implement the system by 2011. The Obama administration has set a goal for digitizing all of the nation’s patient records by 2014.
About Banner Boswell Medical Center
Banner Boswell Medical Center is a 430-bed, acute-care hospital located in Sun City, Arizona. Founded in 1970, Banner Boswell offers heart services, cancer care, orthopedics, neurosciences, women’s diagnostics, emergency care, and medical and surgical services. Supporting Banner Boswell’s mission of excellent patient care is Sun Health, which encourages charitable giving to enhance health care delivery. Banner Boswell is part of nonprofit Banner Health, named a Top Ten Hospital System in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters, with 23 hospitals throughout the West. For more information about Banner Boswell, visit www.BannerHealth.com/Boswell.
About Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center is a 404-bed, acute-care hospital offering orthopedic surgery, heart care, emergency care, general surgery, cancer care, obstetrics and gynecology, outpatient services, rehabilitation and behavioral care. Banner Del E. Webb is part of Banner Health, a nonprofit health care system with 23 hospitals throughout the West. Supporting Banner Del E. Webb’s mission of excellent patient care is Sun Health Foundation, which encourages charitable giving to enhance health care delivery. Banner Del E. Webb is part of Banner Health, a nonprofit health care system with 23 hospitals throughout the West. In 2010, Thomson Reuters named Banner Health one of the Top 10 Hospital Systems in the U.S.
About Sun Health Foundation
Operating under the auspices of Sun Health – which champions healthy living, research and superior healthcare – Sun Health Foundation is the only foundation authorized to raise funds for local Banner facilities including Banner Boswell Medical Center, Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center and Banner Sun Health Research Institute.
