UCSF Medical Center named one of 2015's 'Most Wired' hospitals

UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco have been named one of HealthCare's Most Wired for 2015, in recognition of the focus on security and patient engagement through information technology.

Health data security and patient engagement are top priorities for the nation's hospitals, according to the results of the 17th annual HealthCare survey released July 9, 2015, by the American Hospital Association's Health Forum and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME).

The 2015 Most Wired survey and benchmarking study, in partnership with CHIME and sponsored by VMware, Inc., is a leading industry barometer that measures information technology (IT) use and adoption among hospitals nationwide. The survey of more than 741 participants, representing more than 2,213 hospitals, examined how organizations are leveraging IT to improve performance for value-based healthcare in the areas of infrastructure, business and administrative management, quality and safety, and clinical integration.

"UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco are honored to receive this prestigious award recognizing them as one of the nation's most wired hospitals," said Mark R. Laret, CEO of UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals. "The UCSF information technology groups that support our complex business and our mission are critical to enabling us to provide healthcare that meets the needs of patients and their families, now and in the future. The new UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, which features some of the world's most leading-edge technology, is a prime example of our IT commitment."

According to Joe R. Bengfort, chief information officer (CIO) of UCSF, the advanced use of electronic health records integrated with new mobile technologies providing clinical communications, alarm management and analytical dashboards has helped the UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco care teams collaborate efficiently and stay connected with the patients and each other.

"We commend and congratulate this year's Most Wired hospitals and their CIOs for improving care delivery and outcomes in our nation's hospitals through their creative and revolutionary uses of technology," said CHIME CEO and President Russell P. Branzell, FCHIME CHCIO. "These Most Wired organizations represent excellence in IT leadership on the frontlines of healthcare transformation."

Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the AHA, said, "At the forefront of the field, these hospitals are setting the bar for protection of patient data through discerning security measures."

HealthCare's Most Wired Survey, conducted between Jan. 15 and March 15, 2015, is published annually by Health & Hospitals Network. Respondents completed 741 surveys, representing more than 39 percent of all U.S. hospitals. Last October, the AHA/Health Forum and CHIME announced the formation of a Most Wired partnership to enhance collaboration between the two organizations in the development and sustainability of the survey, and to collectively help meet the growing demand for useful data on health IT integration.

Detailed results of the survey and study can be found in the July issue of H&HN. For a full list of winners visit http://www.hhnmag.com.

Provided by University of California, San Francisco