ALLINA HOSPITALS & CLINICS

Challenge: Paper Medical Record System Outdated
Allina’s home care and hospice services were drowning in paper. Visiting nurses, physical therapists, social workers and chaplains all had to share a single paper medical record. Frustrated patients often answered the same questions again and again.  To share information, staff members exchanged 40-50 voicemail messages per day. Manual processes made quality improvement analysis cumbersome and expensive.

Process: Electronic Medical Record Development and Implementation
Validus led the implementation of an electronic medical record, which field staff use on cutting-edge tablet computers.

Validus led a workflow implementation group to streamline processes from a patient’s referral through discharge. Every decision prioritized exceptional patient care and a positive patient experience. To maximize success, the project team provided every field clinician with at least twenty-two hours of training, and staffed a seven-person command center to provide critical user support during the first weeks.

Results: More Efficient Information System
With the new EMR in place, field staff have the most current patient information at their fingertips.  Every day, updated patient records synchronize across 200 tablet PCs.  Clinicians now review drug interaction risks instantly; and managers analyze daily compliance and quality reports to identify areas for clinical and workflow improvement. Inefficient data entry work has declined substantially, freeing staff members to improve patient care, billing accuracy and reimbursement.  As one nurse case manager explained: "The information we as caregivers have is better - we are more confident in how we deliver care."