Letter from the BWPO Chairman
Dear Colleagues:
Computerized Physician Order Entry, patient safety, quality management for cardiac disease and diabetes, and decision support for ordering radiology exams: These are just a few of the elements that comprise the building blocks of High Performance Medicine.
Partners, BWH and the Brigham and Women’s Physicians Organization remain committed to all aspects of HPM and grateful to the dozens of physicians and administrative staff who serve on HPM’s five teams. The commitment on a system-wide level to High Performance Medicine is fueled by a constant drive for improving care quality, safety and efficiency by using the latest technology system-wide and developing programs that focus on individual patients.
HPM includes maximizing E-prescribing and use of LMR, increasing the reliability of care we provide to key patient populations, better managing the care of our sickest and most expensive patients, reducing medication errors and the unnecessary use of costly medications and expensive radiology tests. Partners and BWH are just as committed to achieving these goals as we are to ensuring our physicians have the resources and access to the expertise to make it happen.
For the 3,000-plus users of LMR, for example, there are a number of recent improvements that make it easier to use while expanding the number of tasks we can accomplish with it. The end of visit functionality has been enhanced, the family history module revised and flow sheets no longer default to pedi. More and more specialists have access to e-prescribing, and we know this is the right thing to do for our patients as it significantly reduces medication errors and saves money, thanks to electronic reminders of available generics. Lastly, the IS LMR team has been a phenomenal partner in developing the LMR and these enhancements based on user feedback.t
We’re making strides in disease management efforts. This issue of BWH Medical Staff News details a new dual-diagnosis program to better manage care for patients with both psychiatric and chronic medical conditions. Through this BIMA and Psychiatry collaboration, patients who need hands-on follow-up get it so they don’t end up presenting to our ED or being readmitted. We have similar programs in place for diabetes management, too, in our health centers.
Delivering quality, safe care underscores all our efforts, and we have an obligation to do so more efficiently to save costs for our patients and payors whenever and wherever possible. It’s the right thing to do.