Avera Health Named 2008 Most Wired and Most Wireless

Patient Satisfaction Higher at Most Wired Hospitals

SIOUX FALLS (July 15, 2008) - For the tenth consecutive year, Avera Health has been named to the nation's MOST WIRED and for the fifth year MOST WIRELESS, according to the results of the 2008 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study released today in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. Avera Health is the only organization in the nation to be named to both lists since their inception.

The 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems show better outcomes in patient satisfaction, risk-adjusted mortality rates and other key quality measures through the use of information technology (IT), according to a new analysis.  Marking its 10th year, the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study continues to lead the field in analyses and benchmarking of health care IT. 

"The purpose of the survey is to promote the effective use of information technology in achieving clinical and operational excellence," said Avera Senior Vice President of Information Systems Jim Veline. "Avera remains in front of the curve for implementation of technology to deliver high-quality results and better care."

The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, the journal of the American Hospital Association, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation's hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues.

"Health IT has shown incredible promise in helping us improve the quality and safety of the care hospitals deliver every day," said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association. "The results of the Most Wired survey confirm that today's patient also understands the benefits of IT in improving care and improving the overall hospital experience."

Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2008 survey in cooperation with Accenture, McKesson Corp. and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

"Today's results add to the growing evidence that the appropriate use of IT can enhance both quality and patient satisfaction," said Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. "Most Wired hospitals are proving the fundamental value of information technology."

The analysis shows that better outcomes occur among high tech hospitals, but it does not establish a direct causal relationship between technology and outcomes. The satisfaction analysis was conducted jointly with Press Ganey Associates and the quality analysis was conducted jointly with Thomson Healthcare.
 
"Quality and satisfaction are often tied to key initiatives and goals that hospitals are striving towards through the use of technology and process improvement," said Merrie Wallace, R.N., vice president and solution line manager, McKesson Provider Technologies. "The most successful hospitals use technology as part of an overall strategy and achieve significant results. Those that just deploy technology for technology's sake don't see these types of results."

Lydon Neumann, senior executive at Accenture LLC, agreed that investment in information technology needs to be coupled with other hospital or system-wide efforts to drive exceptional results. "Most Wired hospitals excel in many ways but a strong investment in and commitment to information technology are characteristic of leaders who are looking at all of the elements needed to be a high-performing organization," Neumann said.

"An investment in information technology demonstrates the organizational commitment to patients, caregivers, physicians and clinicians, staff and administration," said Neumann. "It indicates a willingness to invest in areas that advance organizational effectiveness."

About the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study

Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, conducts the voluntary Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study annually and names the 100 Most Wired.

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.

McKesson Corporation is the world's largest health care services, technology and automation company.

CHIME was formed with the dual objective of serving the professional development needs of health care chief information officers and advocating the more effective use of information management within health care.