Economies of scale are a key benefit for hospital systems whose multiple locations represent opportunities to replicate best practices. Most Wired systems excel in the use of technology for quality and safety and business processes, areas in which a larger organization’s resources and leverage can lead to greater customization, better training and more user assistance. In some areas, such as the percentage of computerized provider order entry systems deployed for physicians and the use and review of predetermined order sets, these systems (the 52 integrated delivery networks that appeared on the 2008 Most Wired list) exceed the Most Wired hospitals. Most Wired systems keep pace with the Most Wired in providing access to CPOE in physician offices and remote locations, performing pre-project analysis, and automating the revenue cycle.
Less wired systems show promise in areas including pre-project analysis and bedside medication matching. But while much of the groundwork for CPOE has clearly been laid, less wired systems are closer to the Least Wired hospitals in terms of capabilities and a significant distance behind Most Wired hospitals and systems in providing CPOE access outside hospital walls.
Financially, less wired systems fall short in denial management and medical necessity checks. They are better than the Least Wired at charge capture reconciliation and charge and order matching but may still be missing opportunities for revenue. Greater efforts in this area could make a big difference.
*Most Wired: Aggregate data for the 100 highest scoring respondents;
**Least wired: Aggregate data for the 100 lowest scoring respondents;
***Most Wired Systems: Aggregate data for the 52 Most Wired Systems;
****Less Wired Systems: Aggregate data for the 123 systems that are not Most Wired;
Source: H&HN’s Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study, 2008
This article first appeared in the Summer issue of HHN's Most Wired Magazine.
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