Hospital to get access program

In order to provide greater access to hospital systems, Jay County Hospital will be implementing a customized Web program that will give medical providers the ability to get information from multiple sources in one place.
The hospital is continuing to work toward bringing its electronic medical records system, MEDI-TECH, online. The MEDITECH system will digitize hospital information, forming an electronic chart for patients as well as streamlining the way information is collected and access from other departments into that chart.
While that service will be readily available inside the hospital, the hospital administration was looking at how to provide that same service when doctors are outside the facility.
 “We have identified that we need some way to provide access in one site,” said Jeff Horn, manager of information systems and support systems.
Bob McKelvey, vice president in charge of information systems for IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, informed the hospital board about MEDSEEK, a program that will allow healthcare providers access “to get that information available in real time.”
The program costs about $250,000, but McKelvey said the cost has been covered for the hospital because the program is implemented, he said it will serve as an example to other hospitals.
“Jay County will be the proving ground for what we need in all of the communities,” McKelvey said.
McKelvey said that around 70 percent of clients utilizing the MEDSEEK program have a MEDITECH EMR in place so there should be no issues with functionality.
McKelvey told the board that Jay County’s MEDSEEK program is still being built, but that it include the input of hospital medical staff in mind so that the program will meet the needs of the staff.
“It’s a one-stop shop,” McKelvey explained. “It lays over all the other programs and allows you to access all your programs through one place.”
As an example, McKelvey cited an example of a doctor vacationing in Mexico who could pull up a chart on a patient and provide his medical opinion over that long distance.
“You could do it on your phone, on your laptop, on a tablet, an iPad,” McKelvey said. “It’s a portal. It’s Web-based.”
McKelvey said when he has a functional build of the MEDSEEK program available, he will return to give a demonstration to the board.
In related business, Horn updated the board on some target “go live” dates for parts of the LSS — an EMR designed for physician’s offices — and MEDITECH EMR systems.
Horn said that target dates for systems to come online include April 1 for the LSS system in physician’s offices, May 16 for laboratory, June 15 for pharmacy and Sept. 20 for order entry and nursing documentation functions.
The total cost of implementing the MEDITECH system at Jay County Hospital will be about $3.2 million.
In other business Wednesday night, the hospital board:
•Heard the auxiliary report from administrative assistant Beth Auker, who was delivering the report for absent auxiliary president Rachel Stultz. In December, 65 auxiliary members volunteered 1,002 hours.
•Heard the financial report from CEO Joe Johnston in place of the absent chief financial officer Don Michael. Johnston reported that the hospital experienced a net loss of about $400,000 during December.
•Tabled the financial committee report until February, due to the absence of Michael.
•Approved purchase of two Stryker labor and delivery beds at a cost of $28,635.60. Nursing director Lisa Craiger said the current beds are about 20 years old and mattresses and sheets for them can no longer be replaced.
•Agreed to hire Shambaugh and Son, L.P. to flush the sprinkler system in the professional office building at a cost not to exceed $8,000. The flush is necessary because of debris in the lines.
•Approved purchase of a 2005 Ford F350 pickup from Moser Motors, Portland at a cost of $17,500. The truck will be used primarily for snow removal and will take over most of the plowing duties of the current 2001 pickup.
•Approved a 39-month lease agreement for a copier from Perry Corporation at a cost of $13,557.96 for the Jay Family Medicine office. The current copier in that office will be moved to a lower print-volume office in the hospital.
•Agreed to a three-year contract with WEBSENSE to provide Internet tracking software at a cost of $10,865. The program will track Web usage at the hospital and is also able to block access to harmful or otherwise restricted sites.
•Agreed to a four-year service agreement with Fuji Film for a laser printer in the radiology department at a cost of $6,486 per year.
The board also approved another four-year service agreement with Fuji Film at a cost of $20,680 per year for equipment that digitizes x-ray images.
•Updated the hospital privileges definition for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.
•Approved a contract naming Drs. Jerry Whetzel and Frank Vormohr co-directors of the hospital’s gero-psych and LifeBridge programs.
•Heard feedback from Craiger about how new cardiology equipment in the hospital helped in early detection of an arterial blockage in a patient. Because of the new equipment, staff was able to identify the blockage early and get the patient on his way to the catheterization lab at Ball Memorial Hospital in about 10 minutes.[[In-content Ad]]