Ness County Hospital Selects ChartAccess® Comprehensive EHR from Prognosis Health Information Systems

HOUSTON, Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ness County Hospital is moving its computerization initiatives forward at full speed. With the implementation of Prognosis ChartAccess® Comprehensive EHR, the 20-bed hospital is planning to quickly fulfill the federal government's meaningful use requirements as stipulated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  

At the same time, the Ness City, Kan.-based provider continues to leverage its existing financial system to enhance administrative processes. The new EHR will integrate with MedGenix Health Information System, the hospital's modular financial and accounting system from Creative Healthcare Systems, Inc., Springfield, Mo.

"We don't have to worry about the one-step forward, two-steps back dance. We are going full steam ahead. With the Prognosis system, we are able to focus on the implementation of the electronic health records and zero in on doing what it takes to qualify for the incentive funds," says Kyle Hahn, administrator at Ness County Hospital. "Because we can maintain our existing financial system, our staff members can focus exclusively on implementing the new clinical system."

Chart Access Comprehensive EHR is a shared, web-native EHR solution that provides clinicians with a complete view of patient data to support optimal and safe clinical care. Delivered via a "cloud computing" model, applications can be made available as a service over the Internet, enabling users to simply access the system by using a standard operating system and a web browser. Built by clinicians for clinicians, the ChartAccess EHR provides a complete view of patient data to support optimal and safe clinical care.  

In addition, ChartAccess offers the user-friendly features that will make it possible to adopt the technology in quick order. For example, an interface that mimics e-mail applications enables clinicians to quickly adopt the system. iPhone and iPad applications that make it possible to view patient rounding lists, process orders and access results at the point of care resonate strongly with clinicians who have been demanding mobile functionality for many years.

"We are really impressed with the ease of use of the system. It's very physician and nurse friendly. So, we think that our clinicians will take to the change readily and easily," Hahn says.

The user-friendly nature of the system combined with the customized implementation support that Ness is receiving from Prognosis will help the hospital move toward the meaningful use requirements in quick order. Ness began the implementation in January and is planning to meet the Stage 1 meaningful use requirements by the end of 2011.

"I am really impressed with the level of support we are receiving from the Prognosis technical team. They are truly dedicated to partnering with us and learning what we need to do here at Ness to move forward and meet all of our goals," Hahn says.

In addition to meeting the criteria for incentive funds, the system is also expected to help the hospital move toward improved charge capture -- and, therefore, a healthier bottom-line.

"The nursing documentation will be much better and more complete. So, I don't think we will be missing as many charges as we did with a paper system," Hahn says. "But most importantly, the system will help us better coordinate the services that we deliver. And, in the end, our patients will benefit by getting better care while being treated in our facility."

About Prognosis

Prognosis Health Information Systems, Inc., Houston, aims to improve the quality and safety of patient care through ChartAccess, a certified Comprehensive EHR. Designed to be fully operational in less than six months at a predictable, affordable cost, the solution enables hospitals to meet meaningful use and improve patient outcomes by leveraging built-in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) milestone and quality measure tracking functionality. PHIS uses 21st-Century technologies to offer small community hospitals a pure browser-based system that can run on-premise or in the cloud. For more information, go to www.prognosishis.com.

SOURCE Prognosis Health Information Systems, Inc.