Springhill Medical Center Among First Gulf Coast Hospitals to Receive Medicare Payment for Electronic Health Record Initiative

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Springhill Medical Center Among First Gulf Coast Hospitals to Receive Medicare Payment... -- MOBILE, Ala., Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

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Use of Sunrisea" from Allscripts Improves Clinical Outcomes for Alabama Hospital, Drives $2 Million Incentive

MOBILE, Ala., Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Springhill Medical Center, a 252-bed acute care hospital in Mobile, Ala., announced today that it is among the first Gulf Coast hospitals to be notified it will receive funding from Medicare for successfully demonstrating "meaningful use" of its Electronic Health Record (EHR). The technology automates many clinical tasks and connects providers to each other and to the latest patient information, supporting safer, higher quality and more coordinated care.

Springhill is the first Mobile-area hospital to receive an EHR incentive payment under the federal HITECH Act, which is designed to reward hospitals and physicians who successfully demonstrate Meaningful Use of an EHR.  Springhill achieved the first stage of the HITECH requirements through use of its Sunrise Enterprise™ EHR from Allscripts (NASDAQ: MDRX). The hospital will receive approximately $2 million in Stage 1 incentives and estimates that it could be eligible for approximately $2 million to $2.5 million more by achieving all three stages of Meaningful Use between now and 2015.

"We pride ourselves on offering the most technologically advanced tools for our physicians and nurses and have been cited for being on the cutting edge over and over through the years," said Jeffery St. Clair, Springhill Medical Center President and CEO. "Just as important to us is having a competent, caring team of healthcare professionals to utilize these advanced tools to provide the best patient care anywhere. This is the mission adopted by everyone who works here, and it has enabled us to remain successful in a challenging time for healthcare."

Mark Kilborn, Springhill Medical Center Chief Information Officer, commented, "The return on Springhill Medical Center's investment in its state-of-the-art Allscripts electronic health record system is easily measured. Through the use of real time data, evidence based guidelines, automated error alerting mechanisms, and structured electronic data sets, Springhill has seen significant improvements in the quality of care, patient safety and most importantly, outcomes. Springhill's commitment to provide these invaluable tools to its many multi-disciplinary caregivers ensures the very best in the clinical decision making process of patient care. Combined with its compassionate, well trained professional staff, Springhill is clearly at the head of the pack here in Mobile and the greater Gulf Coast region."

Springhill surpassed every one of the extensive set of criteria that eligible hospitals and physicians must achieve in order to receive the stage 1 funding. The criteria are designed not only to improve quality, safety, and efficiency but to reduce disparities in healthcare; engage patients in their own care; improve care coordination when patients move from one setting to another; improve population and public health; and ensure privacy and security protections for personal health information.

"Springhill Medical Center has a distinguished track record of using Allscripts technology to drive quality improvements like reductions in wound infections and shorter post-operative stays," said Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. "We're proud to support leading healthcare organizations like Springhill with rapid implementation and the tools they need to attest to meaningful use and continue to improve care for their patients."

ABOUT SPRINGHILL MEDICAL CENTER

Springhill Medical Center is a 252-bed, privately owned facility offering a comprehensive medical-surgical hospital with all private rooms. Springhill serves the residents of Mobile and the greater southwest Alabama region and offers a complete range of acute and outpatient care. Since 1975, the hospital has more than quadrupled in size while investing in its clinical and operational infrastructure. Physician-founded and inspired, Springhill strives to grow better, not just bigger. For more information, please visit [ www.springhillmedicalcenter.com ].

SOURCE Springhill Medical Center

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