Hospital installs electronic record system

Ever wonder what it’s like to take 1,500 computers online at the same time in an industry where the work never stops?

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford recently implemented an electronic record system that brings all the hospital’s new records onto the computer, from patient health histories to physicians’ orders and lab and radiology reports.

The initiative required thousands of hours of training for Texas Health HEB employees and physicians on the medical staff. And so far all those hours in the classroom learning how to best utilize the electronic system has paid off.

“I would say the implementation has gone very well,” said Dr. Bob Rowland, chief medical information officer at Texas Health HEB, who is one of the leaders of the conversion. “This is a massive undertaking, but the end result will be a great benefit for our patients. Electronic systems are the wave of the future in health care and will enable our patients to benefit from having their records available when they visit any of Texas Health’s 14 hospitals after all of our hospitals are on the system next year.”

Employees from other Texas Health hospitals that have already installed the electronic system also have come in to help with the implementation. Termed “superusers” these employees were on hand to help answer questions and ensure a smooth transition for Texas Health HEB employees, physicians on the medical staff and our patients.

Six days into the transition, 78 percent of the medication orders are being entered electronically, which helps to reduce errors, Dr. Rowland said. “The support from physicians has been invaluable to a smooth transition to the electronic system.”