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From banking to bill pay, digital technology has
brought a whole new level of convenience to every-
day life. The same can be said about health care with
the advent of electronic medical records (EMRs).
And on September 28, Saint Agnes Medical Center
will become part of this technology revolution. After
years of planning and preparation, the Medical
Center will implement its new state-of-the-art elec-
tronic health information system, known as Genesis.
A POWERFUL TOOL
“This is such an exciting time to be a caregiver at
Saint Agnes,” says chief nursing officer Debi Pasley.
“Genesis puts the safest, most useful tools to sup-
port excellent, patient-centered care right at our
fingertips.”
Once Saint Agnes goes live with Genesis, care-
givers will be able to access their patients’ complete
medical records with a few simple keystrokes. This
means greater efficiency for caregivers.
“It frees up the pharmacy, nursing and the ancil-
lary staff from having to check orders and having to
do all the paperwork, and it allows us to get to the
bedside to do the things we need to do for the pa-
tient,” says Saint Agnes registered nurse Kim Cox.
Genesis will also:
•
Speed up the admission process and make pa-
tient information immediately available to care-
givers at all times.
•
Instantly send physician orders for X-rays or lab
tests to the right department.
•
Document all care given during a patient’s stay,
providing information that is up-to-the-minute.
•
Allow physicians to check test results remotely so
that they can stay updated on a patient’s progress
no matter where they are.
•
Allow patient information to be immediately
accessible to caregivers should a patient require
another visit to Saint Agnes.
A STEP FORWARD IN SAFETY
As well as being faster and easier to access, elec-
tronic records are safer because they reduce the
possibility of transcription errors from difficult-to-
read handwriting. “We’re not having to decipher
what an order says,” Cox says.
Nearly 40 percent of medication errors occur
during ordering, and some studies show that those
errors can be reduced by half or more when physi-
cians make orders via computer.
Another safeguard built into the system is medica-
tion reconciliation. Prescribed medications are auto-
matically checked against the patient’s lab results
and other key indicators to prevent potential drug
interactions and to ensure appropriate medication
and dosing.
But Genesis provides more than the technological
tools needed to transform the way medicine is
delivered. It ensures better outcomes and safer
care by providing clinicians with evidence-based
decision-making tools and standardized best
practices.
Staff and physicians have been engaged in rigor-
ous computer training to ensure a smooth transition
to the new electronic health system.
This major undertaking will forever change the
delivery of patient care at Saint Agnes, but not
our promise to care for patients with the utmost
compassion and quality…body, mind and spirit.
Saint Agnes launches new
electronic medical record
NEW
TECHNOLOGY
Genesis allows caregivers – like respira-
tory therapist Augi Rodriguez (top) and
registered nurse Kim Cox (bottom) – to
spend more time caring for patients at the
bedside.
Manage your medications
Do you take multiple medications? Staying informed about potential drug
interactions is especially important when managing your health.
Be sure that your doctors are aware of all the medicines you take – both pre-
scription and over-the-counter drugs. Download a free copy of our Medica-
tion and Health History Information Card – a pocket-size card that can be used
to keep track of all your medications. Visit www.samc.com > Healthy
Living > Health Information > Passport to Good Health.
www.samc.com