WELLSVILLE, NY (July 19, 2017) – Jones Memorial Hospital (JMH)
has received a $5.7 million grant from the NYS Health Care Transformation
Program.
One of three hospitals currently affiliated with UR Medicine
to be included in the award, JMH will use the funds for a multi-year project to
implement a new electronic medical record system (EMR) that will integrate
Jones into the UR Medicine EMR system. The EPIC System will allow patient
information to flow seamlessly between Jones Memorial Hospital and its
Rochester partners, including Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals.
“These funds will provide us with the resources to work more
effectively and more efficiently with our partners,” said Eva Benedict, CEO at
Jones, adding her thanks to Senator Cathy Young for her support of Jones
Memorial’s the grant application. “Not only will migrating to a common EMR with
the UR Medicine and the other affiliates of UR Medicine be beneficial when
recruiting specialists from UR, it will - most importantly - enhance the
communication of patient medical information across the system and improve
patient safety.”
According to Alicia Johnson, the IT director at Jones Memorial,
EPIC will replace Meditech and LSS, the electronic medical record system that
has been in use at Jones since 1999. “One of the most exciting aspects of to
the project to transform Jones Memorial to the EPIC system that is currently in
use by UR Medicine and our regional affiliates, is that we will have partners
with years of experience available if we have questions or need to trouble
shoot,” she said. “Because all of the affiliates will eventually be migrating
to EPIC, there will be a safer and more streamlined approach to patient care,
with patient records available to providers across the affiliation.”
Physicians and specialists will be able to use ONE medical
records system at each of the five affiliate hospitals, rather than a different
system at each hospital. As a result, sharing staff and specialists between the
affiliate hospitals will be much simpler. The timeline for implementation of
this multi-year project begins with an IT work group with members from all
regional partners who will develop a plan to develop and build the system.
As an affiliate of UR Medicine, JMH is part of that
network’s efforts to create a collaborative health system among Rochester and
hospitals in Livingston, Northern Steuben and Allegany counties. “These grants
help to close the gap between what’s needed by those we serve and what’s
affordable based on our operations. This funding will help us build an
infrastructure that works better for patients and providers, and furthers our
efforts to address daunting behavioral health challenges,” said Mark B.
Taubman, M.D., CEO of UR Medicine. “I want to thank Gov. Cuomo and the New York
State Legislature for their support in helping us facilitate a broad,
comprehensive delivery system transformation plan across several systems in a
manner that ensures that these hospitals remain the cornerstone of local health
care by strengthening services for patients across the Finger Lakes and the
Southern Tier.”
The Governor’s Office announced a total of $18.7 million was
awarded for six projects that will protect and transform the Finger Lakes
Region's health care system. "Now, more than ever, we need to protect
health care in New York and ensure the system in place is meeting the needs of
current and future generations of New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said in a
press release announcing the awards. "While others seek to decimate our
hospitals and reduce access to quality healthcare, we are investing to help
ensure a stronger, healthier New York for all."
