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By John Oliverio, President and CEO
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Glendale, Wis.
Transforming the Patient-Care Delivery Process
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare is dedicated to delivering quality care through advanced technology, highly trained staff, and superior and compassionate service. In 2003, we committed to a new business model to optimize clinical outcomes, physician relations and financial performance. In combination with process and culture change, we have successfully transformed our patient care delivery process.
An electronic health record (EHR) that works across care delivery settings was the key enabler. Without standardized clinical processes and an integrated EHR – which makes patient information accessible to authorized caregivers regardless of the setting of care – we would be unable to realize our clinical and financial goals. We wanted to leverage technology across our system to improve patient care quality by giving clinicians access to critical information that is accurate, timely and actionable.
Objectives were developed to standardize clinical processes using evidence-based best practice, improve clinical quality and patient safety, engage physicians, and maximize documentation compliance. By identifying the benefits of each component of the EHR and monitoring the results, we stayed focused on our goals.
Adopting a Staged Implementation Approach
When the decision was made to implement an integrated EHR, we turned to the Horizon Clinicals® solution suite from McKesson. A staged implementation approach was adopted, with two teams forming to oversee the initiative: the governance and EHR operations teams.
 Each team included both McKesson and Wheaton executives
Technical, education and communication teams supported the
work of the various application teams
A major key to success was engaging physician and clinical
leadership in the design, testing and adoption of the applications
Enhancing Quality
While some quantitative results like cost reduction can take months or years to fully realize, quality measures were realized almost instantaneously.
Easy Chart Completion — Our doctors now can electronically view, complete and sign off on patient charts using a document imaging solution via our physician portal. Physician reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, and the solution's workflow automation has enabled us to transform the staffing structure of our medical records departments.
Improved Bedside Medication Administration — Implementation of a wireless point-of-care application enables nurses to electronically scan bar-coded wristbands and medications at the bedside to ensure "five rights" checking. Perhaps most important, patients say they "feel safer."
Up-to-Date Allergy Information — Our pharmacy information solution provides up-to-date patient allergy information across all our facilities. The system ensures that allergy information is consistently collected and documented throughout the enterprise.
CPOE for Decision Support — Our computerized provider order entry (CPOE) solution has improved access to patient data and enables us to provide decision support at the point of care. CPOE helps to prevent potential medication errors by eliminating illegible handwriting on paper orders.
Standardizing Care
Using targeted solutions, we were able to standardize care throughout our enterprise.
Portal for a Single View of Patient Data — Physicians can access CPOE and other solutions through our physician portal, which provides secure access to inpatient and outpatient data from across our health system. In addition to vital patient information, clinicians have a comprehensive, dynamic view of what medications patients have taken, what they are taking and what they will take.
Care Team Collaboration and Shared Documentation — McKesson's care documentation system enables nurses to review each patient's status and document information at the point of care. Clinicians across multiple disciplines can communicate, evaluate and coordinate the patient's care and progress. Nursing best practices and guidelines are incorporated into the system to help standardize care throughout the enterprise.
An integrated emergency department information system enhances collaboration among the care team while enabling a more efficient workflow and patient management.
Assisting Physicians with Clinical and Practice
Management Tools
Wheaton offers software to its employed physicians for their offices, including an ambulatory EHR that is integrated with the inpatient EHR. In addition, we offer them a practice management system that is integrated with the ambulatory EHR and assists them with billing, scheduling and workflow management.
Achieving Outcomes
Wheaton partnered with McKesson to implement a broad range of systems in nine hospitals and more than 70 clinics across two states in three years. We have projected that the financial benefits from implementing this broad range of solutions to support an electronic health record at more than $70 million over a five-year period.
We're proud to now have an integrated EHR deployed throughout our system that enhances patient safety, facilitates the exchange of information and reduces overall costs. Our work will continue as we further optimize this important tool.
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare is a winner of McKesson's 2009 VIP Award. Each year McKesson recognizes customers that demonstrate vision and innovation in the use of information technology to enhance healthcare performance.
John D. Oliverio is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, a Catholic, not-for-profit organization with more than 100 health and shelter organizations and nearly 23,000 associates in Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado and Illinois. Serving Wheaton since 1984, and President and CEO since 2000, Oliverio has led the organization's move to an integrated business model.
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