This week, Fletcher Allen Health Care announced the successful implementation of the first phase of electronic health record (EHR) system and patient record and information systems management (PRISM) by CSC.

This first phase was conducted over a 15-month period and PRISM is now operational in the hospital's inpatient areas as well as the Emergency Department, Walk-In Care Centre, and inpatient pharmacy. Fletcher Allen is now positioned to meet the regulatory requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Under ARRA, hospitals will receive monetary incentives if they demonstrate "meaningful use" of EHRs by 2011.

The EHR system has benefits that include improved viewing of all patient information in one place; accessibility of patient information from remote locations; ability for multiple parties to concurrently check patient information; and instant access to medical orders. To date, Fletcher Allen's providers are entering 92 percent of all medical orders electronically (and 96 percent of all medication orders), reducing the turnaround time for receiving medications and tests and enhancing the accuracy of clinical documentation.

As part of the project, CSC provided clinical transformation consulting services and IT design, building, testing and activation support. CSC continues to offer technology support services to Fletcher Allen, as the hospital prepares to conduct phases two and three of the project due to be completed by the end of 2010.

Sandra Dalton, senior vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at Fletcher Allen, commented: "We adopted an electronic health record to improve safety and quality of care for patients. With CSC's healthcare expertise and track record in clinical systems implementation and improvement, we have succeeded in completing the first phase of our project on budget, on schedule and in just 15 months. We hope other hospitals are encouraged by our achievement."