White Plains Hospital Center is building new information system

Westchester County Business Journal, Aug 16, 2004

A few weeks ago, the federal government released a report urging America's hospitals to invest in technology to bring patient records and prescriptions into the computer age but White Plains Hospital Center is already building a new health information technology system, the first phase of which will be completed by January.

When the total project is completed in several years, not only will all of the hospital patient records be converted and integrated into an advanced electronic form but also physicians and nurses will have the potential to access records from hand-held computers.

According to the government's report, "Decade of Health Information Technology," the vast majority of the nation's more than 6,000 hospitals tack an electronic patient record system. While White Plains Hospital already had patient records in electronic form, it elected to upgrade its system to meet the growing demands to communicate and share vital patient information electronically, the hospital said.

Earlier this year, the hospital joined the other member hospitals of the Stellaris Health Network Inc., (Northern Westchester Medical Center Phelps Memorial Medical Center, and Lawrence Hospital) in selecting Medical Information Technology Inc. of Boston to supply the advanced technology system.

Illustrating how the Meditech System will enhance patient safety, Jon B. Schandler, hospital president and chief executive officer, said: "This technology will enable physicians and nurses to do their jobs more efficiently. With the convenience of portable computers and printers, they will be able to better plan patient care, document clinical observations and treatment, coordinate patient service delivery and provide caregivers with important alerts."

Schandler also explained that the system will integrate vital information such as laboratory results "so that the physician or pharmacist can make modifications by accessing this crucial clinical data."

The first phase in the transition to the new technology platform has also involved detailed and intensive coordination meetings and training sessions between teams of White Plains Hospital employees and consultants from Elmsford-based First Consulting Group, the firm overseeing the implementation, operation and technical support of the Meditech System. Full implementation is expected in 2005.