NORWAY — In coordination with the Leapfrog Groups recognition of Stephens Memorial Hospital as one of three top rural hospitals in the country, M. Patricia Cook, BSN, MBA, M.Ed, Ed.D., RN, senior vice president of clinical, participated in a round table discussion in Washington, D.C., regarding health information technology and the effects on quality and cost.

Cook and four other panelists from around the country discussed the adoption of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and fielded questions on how the electronic orders affect quality of care, patient outcomes and how they may impact future funding for hospitals.

As part of the program, hospitals’ national use of computerized medical records and physician order entry was reported. Cook said that only 11 percent of rural hospitals like Stephens Memorial Hospital are fully using CPOE; and only 3.7 percent of hospitals are fully using CPOE with additional patient safety support software and also with bedside medication verification.

Stephens Memorial Hospital is among the 3.7 percent, and has used electronic patient records since 2002. Stephens has also successfully implemented a number of other patient safety technologies including “smart” IV pumps loaded with a ‘brain’ that assists the nurse in delivering the right medication and dose, automated medication cabinets similar to an ATM machine for medications and an electronic medication administration record that eliminates transcription errors.

“Being part of the panel discussion was exciting, and receiving the Top Rural Hospital Award for Stephens Memorial Hospital was exhilarating. I’m proud to work at Stephens Memorial Hospital, now officially a top notch hospital, and it’s right in our own back yard,” said Cook.