Cheyenne Regional Health System Receives Recognition for its High-Performing Electronic Medical Record System
May 17, 2018
Cheyenne, WY — The Cheyenne Regional health system has been recognized for having a high-functioning and broad-based electronic medical record (EMR) system by HIMSS Analytics, an international firm that evaluates and rates healthcare facilities’ EMRs and information technology capabilities.
Cheyenne Regional was notified in April that its outpatient clinics achieved Stage 6 of the HIMSS Analytics Hospital Outpatient Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model. There are eight HIMSS stages, from 0-7, with Stage 7 being the highest level of recognition.
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center (CRMC) received the HIMSS Stage 6 designation for its inpatient EMR capabilities in 2013, shortly after its Epic EMR system was installed. At the time, only 10 percent of the more than 5,400 hospitals tracked by HIMSS Analytics had achieved Stage 6.
“Our Epic and IT teams are honored to have achieved this recognition for our outpatient facilities,” said Lucy Stacy, CRMC’s Epic program director. “We are committed to the continued improvement of our electronic medical record to enhance our delivery and quality of care for our patients and clinicians.”
Cheyenne Regional Medical Group (CRMG) currently has 16 clinics, with 15 being included in the most recent HIMSS Analytics recognition.
“Achieving Stage 6 designation is significant because it shows that our health system as a whole is committed to offering an advanced, high-performing electronic medical record system that will benefit our patients and community,” Stacy said.
“HIMSS Analytics congratulates Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and its clinics for making significant progress toward achieving advanced health IT adoption,” said John H. Daniels, global vice president of HIMSS Analytics. “Stage 6 represents a level of sophistication that can lead to innovative healthcare transformation.”
A primary benefit of an EMR is that all partners in the system can access the record at any time. This allows for a smoother transfer of critical patient healthcare information among physicians and other healthcare providers.
“For the patient, a high-performing EMR provides better and more timely communication, resulting in more efficient medical care,” Stacy said.
Convenience for the healthcare consumer is another advantage of a high-functioning EMR. CRMC and CRMG offer the MyChart patient portal as part of their EMR. MyChart is a secure site that allows patients to access their medical records, schedule clinic appointments, view their billing statements and send questions to their providers.
Another benefit of a high-functioning EMR is that it helps health systems meet federal requirements, including the ability to report quality and performance data.
“Healthcare is complex and highly regulated and, more and more, is becoming consumer-driven. Having a sophisticated, high-performing and secure electronic medical record system is the only way that a healthcare system can do the many things that are now required and expected of it,” Stacy said.
