July 13, 2011

Des Moines, Iowa - July 13, 2011 -  Broadlawns Medical Center has been recognized as one of the nation’s “Most Wired – Small and Rural Hospitals” by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. The  Most Wired lists are based on the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study conducted annually by the magazine, which is the journal of the American Hospital Association.

Broadlawns is included in the list of top hospitals that realize the powerful role of the electronic medical record (EMR) to improve quality, safety and the patient experience. Broadlawns’ progress in this arena coupled with recent facility renovations and additions of cutting-edge technology continues to position the medical center to provide superior healthcare.

"The objectives of EMR are clearly patient-focused," said Jody Jenner, president and CEO of Broadlawns Medical Center. "We are pleased to be recognized for leading the industry as we improve care coordination through the exchange of information among our professional healthcare teams.  At the same time, we are improving quality, safety and efficiency. "

Included in the Electronic Medical Records enhancements, is the introduction of the PatientSecure™ palm vein scanning system introduced last month as well as an online patient medication management system and doctor’s orders system that allows physicians to have important information accessible as they provide patient care.

"We have already seen an increase in patient satisfaction and we see the return-on-investment in many areas. We think in the long term it's going to lower the cost of health care," says Al White, Broadlawns Chief Financial Officer.  “Those are savings that are passed on to patients.” 

White estimates Broadlawns saves $660,000 in annual service fees through the efficiencies gained. Other cost savings include reduced wait times for information and increased sharing of data through these new processes.

“These improvements also support Broadlawns’ desire to become a HIMMS Stage 7,” Jenner adds. “Currently we are a Stage 6 program which only 1.5% of the nation’s hospitals can claim. While our short-term goal is to achieve Stage 7 with less than 1% of the country’s hospitals, of greatest significance is how all of these accomplishments translate into better healthcare for our patients here in Iowa and those who seek our expertise from out of the state.

Hospitals & Health Networks magazine is published by the American Hospital Association.  The Most Wired program annually surveys the status of hospitals and names its “Most Wired” award winners that lead their peers in four areas:  Business and Administrative Management, Clinical Quality and Safety, Care Continuum, and Infrastructure. A total of 1,388 U.S. hospitals submitted data for the 2011 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study.  A hospital is considered small and rural based on bed-size (100 beds or less) or location outside a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), as designated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Organizations whose responses reflect development in the four survey focus areas not already recognized on the primary Most Wired list are Most Wired—Small and Rural.

Broadlawns Medical Center first opened its doors as a hospital to the residents of Polk County on April 13, 1924. Over the years, Broadlawns has adapted to the changing demands of public health care, yet remained true to its mission of offering quality health services to all Polk County residents and training tomorrow’s health care professionals. Today Broadlawns Medical Center is composed of:

• An acute care community hospital serving medical, surgical, mental health and primary care needs
• A 60-member physician practice overseeing numerous specialty clinics and outpatient services
• A Family Medicine Residency Program that graduates physician leaders who today serve in 22 of Iowa’s 99 counties

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