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(CHICAGO) August 29, 2017 – Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) has been revalidated as one of the HIMSS Analytics EMRAM Stage 7 hospitals. This prestigious achievement reflects Ontario Shores’ commitment to ensuring the highest quality of care is met using electronic medical records (EMR).
Organizations recognized as a Stage 7 hospital, no longer use paper charts to deliver patient care. Found within a Stage 7 organization are an abundance of data, automated processes, easier access to information and clinical decision supports within its EMR. Ontario Shores is the first hospital in Canada to receive the HIMSS Analytics EMRAM Stage 7 revalidation.
“Achieving Stage 7 revalidation reflects the high standard of quality at Ontario Shores and demonstrates how we are advancing care for individuals living with mental illness,” says Karim Mamdani, President and CEO at Ontario Shores. “Our electronic medical record system improves the delivery and quality of care that we provide and standardizes clinical documentation in an environment which is efficient, secure and collaborative.”
An electronic medical record system (EMR) has enabled Ontario Shores to introduce new tools and applications that have led to improved quality of patient care, safety and efficiency. The Level of Care Utilization System (LOCUS) is an assessment tool that helps determine the appropriate level of care a patient requires as they transition through care. The integration of LOCUS into the EMR, together with excellent business intelligence tools and process redesign has decreased the average length of stay for discharged patients and that has resulted in savings which have been redeployed back into clinical services. LOCUS has enabled healthcare providers to decrease re-admission rates within 30 days of patient discharge and achieve a 20% increase in the number of patients per quarter admitted from the wait list.
To further partner with patients in their care, Ontario Shores launched HealthCheck, a patient portal which allows patients to safely access their electronic health information through an online portal. Information involving current health conditions, lab results, visit history and medication can all be accessed through the Ontario Shores Electronic Health Record. Staff also benefit from improved communication and engagement with patients and their families.
“Congratulations to Ontario Shores for this important and valuable achievement,” says Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “Ontario Shores’ advanced electronic medical system is making their healthcare services faster, more efficient and more secure, which enables them to provide more seamless care for their patients.”
“The challenge of adapting an EMR system to mental health services has been embraced with enthusiasm by the leadership team at Ontario Shores,” says John Hoyt, HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 revalidation lead. “Their system drives clinical standardization that results in numerous improvements in quality, efficiency and increased capacity, leading to reduced wait times for admissions. They continually adapt technology in many forms to their unique setting to engage patients in their own recovery. It is our pleasure to revalidate Ontario Shores as a Stage 7 organization.”
Revalidation as a HIMSS Analytics EMRAM Stage 7 hospital has allowed Ontario Shores to enhance the quality of patient care. This designation has advanced and ensured patient safety through analytics and has created greater access and efficiencies in care.
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