Peconic Bay Medical Center Hospitals & Health Networks 2013 Most Wired Innovator Award Finalist

Mary Thomas
Manager of Medical Center Communications
Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC)
Ph: (631) 548-6088
Email: mthomas@pbmchealth.org

RIVERHEAD, NY – Peconic Bay Medical Center ‘s (PBMC) strategic measures in providing enhanced healthcare for the community has earned them recognition by Hospitals& Health Networks as 2013 Most Wired Innovator Award - Finalist.

The 2013 Most Wired Award recognizes hospitals and health systems for excellence in IT based on the organization’s achievements within the analytic structure. Recognition is based on four focus areas: infrastructure, business and administration management, clinical quality and safety and clinical integration.  As 2013 Most Wired Innovator Award - Finalist, a panel of hospital and information technology leaders identified noteworthy IT projects evaluated on business objective, creativity, uniqueness of concept, scope of solution, and impact on the organization. Peconic Bay Medical Center, the flagship facility for a comprehensive continuum of care, chose to implement Siemens Soarian as its new Clinical Information System to comply with federally mandated guidelines for employing an effective Electronic Health Records System. To support this endeavor, the medical center’s entire network infrastructure was replaced.  Additionally, a terminal was installed in every patient room to provide ease of access to the new system for clinicians.  A product known as VMWare was used which allows for the virtualization of a Windows desktop, which can be deployed to these very low cost terminals.  To reduce costs of providing generator power to all of these devices, a new technology known as Universal Power over Ethernet was utilized which allows the terminals to be powered over the computer network as opposed to normal 110v outlets.  While saving time and effort that could be better purposed in delivering patient care, the system also measurably improved patient safety and quality of care.

“This technology has been very well received by all stakeholders. It satisfies their needs, increases productivity, reduces support costs and places caregivers where they belong… at the bedside”, said Arthur Crowe, Vice President of Hospital Services and CIO, Peconic Bay Medical Center and Peconic Bay Medical Center.

Hospitals & Health Networks sponsors the annual Most Wired Survey, which is an industry-standard benchmark study. The survey is designed to measure the level of IT adoption in U.S. hospitals and health systems, and is a useful tool for hospital and health system leadership to map their IT strategic plans. Health Forum, an American Hospital Association information company, distributes, collects and analyzes the Most Wired data and develops benchmarks that are becoming the industry standard for measuring IT adoption for operational, financial and clinical performance in health care delivery systems.