It’s the goal of every emergency department—treat patients quickly so they can get back to their day-to-day lives faster. Now, thanks to licensing the most comprehensive emergency department information system available, the Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan., and Saint John Hospital, Leavenworth, Kan., emergency departments soon will be able to realize that goal.
Both hospitals recently licensed the T SystemEV® Version 2.6 from T-System, Inc., and will begin using the software in early 2008. According to the company, facilities using T SystemEV have seen door-to-doctor times decrease by as much as 40 minutes and the average length of stay in the emergency department decrease from more than four hours to about two and one-half.
According to Janie Schumaker, R.N., B.S.N., C.E.N., C.P.H.Q., Providence Emergency Services director, T SystemEV is an emergency department information system (EDIS) that was designed by emergency department physicians and nurses. “Our Shared Governance Council evaluated a number of information systems and found this one to be the best fit for us and the most user-friendly,” she says.
“Our Emergency Department physicians, who will be using this new system to document the care they deliver, collaborated on selecting the T SystemEV,” adds Mary Dailey, vice president of Patient Care Services for the hospitals. “Investing in this software demonstrates a commitment from our senior leadership to provide the best care possible for our patients.”
Advantages to the T SystemEV include:
• Easy access. Doctors and nurses can use hand-held computers, tablets, desktop or laptop computers preloaded with standard order sets that prompt nurses and physicians with questions tailored to various conditions. This allows more efficient assessment of a patient’s illness or injury, expedites treatment and decreases waiting time.
• Better continuity of care. Each patient’s visit is stored on the main server and is immediately available to doctors and nurses if the patient returns for care. The system can track patients from arrival through discharge, alerting staff to time thresholds, as well as the patient’s status and location.
• More legible and complete documentation. The system incorporates national standards for record-keeping and patient privacy documentation. Providers use the software to document patient care, order lab tests, radiology, medications, consults and ancillary services right from the patient’s bedside.
The end result is more efficient, effective patient care. “T SystemEV interfaces with the other electronic patient information software we use for items such as lab work or X-rays,” Schumaker explains. “The doctor can simply call up the patient’s results and
see them in real time. That means information is available instantly, streamlining patient care at the hospitals, and getting our patients back to their daily routines much quicker.”
In addition to implementing the latest emergency department information system, Providence recently began a $10 million construction project on its Emergency Services Department. The project will triple the size of the department, providing a total of 29 private patient care areas, additional treatment areas, a more accessible entrance and waiting areas. It is anticipated the project will be completed at the end of 2008.