Annual Survey Demonstrates Increased Demand for Anesthesia Information Management Systems

ATLANTA, Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Anesthesiologists are quickly turning to Anesthesia Information Management Systems (AIMS) to help deliver cost-effective, high quality care.  An annual survey of anesthesia providers shows an increased demand for AIMS with 57% of survey respondents indicating that IT solutions are a high priority. 63% reported meaningful use requirements as a key driver in IT decisions.  The survey of 212 anesthesia providers was sponsored by Surgical Information Systems.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080722/SISLOGO )

"This survey mirrors the AIMS demand we are seeing in the market," said Ed Daihl, CEO, Surgical Information Systems.

"Electronic anesthesia documentation enables fast, complete and legible anesthesia records, facilitating billing and providing a rich data set of information and analytics to be used for quality improvement and cost control efforts.  These are significant benefits; especially given the direction healthcare is headed."

In the survey, 43% report that they are either using or planning to implement an AIMS with an additional 28% evaluating systems in the next year. Key drivers cited for investment in AIMS include OR efficiencies to be gained from an electronic chart, analytics capabilities, improved communications, and support for mobile devices to cover all anesthesia sites within the hospital.  

40% of respondents state Quality of Patient Care as their top work concern. An AIMS supports quality by providing workflow driven documentation that maximizes caregiver time with patients and provides information for analysis afterwards.  

Decreasing Reimbursements was the second most stated work concern. As payment models shift from volume to outcomes, the ability to provide documented, high-quality care is a key focus. Survey respondents reported key cost reduction efforts that include:

• Enhancing OR efficiency. Utilizing electronic records for better charting, billing and OR management including using analytics to monitor metrics like OR times, anesthesia turnovers and drug usage.
• Improving purchasing power. Implementing electronic documentation, charge capture and analytics provides rich data to better negotiate with suppliers for drugs, supplies, and equipment.
• Reducing waste. Limiting unnecessary use of supplies, drugs, and blood.

An AIMS that includes analytics provides anesthesia providers with clinical intelligence, giving them access to metrics such as anesthesia times, surgical times, and outcomes by caregiver. With the ability to analyze outcome quality, anesthesia providers can monitor and improve efficiencies, strengthen their purchasing power, and reduce unnecessary supplies.

"The interest in AIMS is growing due to the value they deliver in meeting top hospital objectives for care quality and financial performance," said Daihl.  "An AIMS with anesthesia focused analytics unlocks decision making data to help anesthesia providers and hospitals improve both quality of care and financial return."  

About SIS

Surgical Information Systems ("SIS") provides software solutions that are uniquely designed to add value at every point of the perioperative process. Developed specifically for the complex surgical environment, all SIS solutions – including anesthesia – are architected on a single database and integrate easily with other hospital systems. SIS offers the only surgical scheduling system and the only anesthesia information management system endorsed by the American Hospital Association (AHA), and a rules-based charging system that has been granted Peer Reviewed status by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). SIS is also the first AIMS provider to be designated as an AQI Preferred Vendor by the Anesthesia Quality Institute (AQI).

For more information visit our website, www.SISFirst.com.

SOURCE Surgical Information Systems