Aloha,

The HHSC electronic medical records (EMR) project continues its forward momentum with the help of all the dedicated HHSC hospital and medical staff.   The EMR Steering Committee and Siemens representatives just completed an extensive review and examination of our past and present accomplishments, and next steps ahead.  The HHSC EMR Steering Committee recommended a revision to the Go-Live schedule that was approved.  We are very excited to announce the Kona Community Hospital and Kohala Hospitals will be the first to go live in February of 2013.   The new timeline will allow additional personnel to be engaged and participate in an expanded Unit/Integrated testing phase of the project. We believe this  enhanced testing process will ensure the quality of the system’s build  prior to go-live.

In light of the revised go-live schedule, our testing period has been lengthened and, as you likely guessed it: TESTING, TESTING, and more TESTING by our clinical and financial teams throughout 2012.  The extra time will ensure that all of our teams and units are able to both communicate with and support each other simultaneously. 

For example, an important collaborative, testing effort going on right now involves medications.  In fact close to 4,400 different kinds of medications are being tested by a number of your hospital and Siemens staff  to make sure that the ordering, dispensing, charging and administration of prescriptions is being done in an effective and efficient manner.         

At the same time, numerous other EMeRGE-related activities continue to progress forward.  The HHSC Kauai Region, during the week of June 17,  hosted an HHSC EMeRGE Update event, that provided an opportunity for hospital and medical staff  to learn as well as ask questions about the progress and next steps of our EMR project.  Similarly, the Emergency Department Team is getting prepared to visit your region/facility in late July-early August for an ED product presentation and demonstration.  You will be notified about an event coming  in your region/facility in the upcoming weeks. 

In the meantime, the cabling vendors will be out and about in your neighborhood getting the hotspots of your facility tested and ready for wireless access.  Additionally, HHSC technical service and Siemens representatives are scheduled to be in your region building an easy-to-use virtual desk top and making sure that the appropriate applications are working as they should be.  

Other efforts being undertaken include the project planning for the upcoming phases: 1) integrated testing; 2) basic computer skills and end user EMR training, and 3) live event planning .   We will be sure to keep you informed about each of them, based on the progress of the HHSC EMeRGE Project. 

As part of our on-going effort to improve communications across the HHSC system, a set of frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) are now online.  Users have the ability to sort, search, and read these short answers and also submit questions.  We hope everyone will take advantage of this useful tool.  This web based system can be accessed via the intranet for anyone that is logged into the HHSC network.  It can be found at: http://intranet/FAQ/index.asp

Your continued support and participation is very much appreciated.

We invite you to share your feedback about the HHSC EMeRGE project at EMR@hhsc.org.  And stay informed about the latest HHSC EMeRGE updates and news via the following links:

• HHSC EMR Intranet Website, http://intranet/emrupdate/ (for HHSC users)
• HHSC EMR Internet Website, http://www.hhsc.org/emrupdate/index.html (for everyone)

 Mahalo,

 Kay Richford

HHSC EMeRGE Interim Project Manager

krichford@hhsc.org

(808) 733-4074