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Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Named "Most Wired" by Hospitals & Health Networks Magazine

New Brunswick and Somerville Campuses on the Forefront of Using Health Information Technology to Advance Patient Care

New Brunswick and Somerville, N.J. (July 10, 2014) Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital(RWJUH) announced today that it has been named one of the “Most Wired” organizations of 2014 byHospitals & Health NetworksMagazine. The annual Most Wired survey is designed to measure the level of information technology (IT) adoption in U.S. hospitals and health systems, Both RWJUH’s New Brunswick and Somerville campuses earned spots on the prestigious list.

As one of the nation’s “Most Wired” hospitals, RWJUH is leveraging the adoption and use of health IT to improve performance in a number of areas, according to Health Care’s Most Wired 2014 survey released today.   This includes adopting technologies to improve patient documentation, advance clinical decision support and evidence-based protocols, reduce the likelihood of medication errors, and rapidly restore access to data in the case of a disaster or outage.

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“We have seen firsthand how technology has positively impacted and enhanced the care that we are able to provide to our patients and our community,” said Stephen K. Jones, president and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson Health System. “The systems and technology that we have invested in have allowed us to consistently deliver comprehensive care and ultimately improve patient outcomes. We remain committed to effectively using the most current technology available, while also being prepared for future advances in health information technology.”

RWJUH Somerset recently became the first hospital in New Jersey and one of only four hospitals in the country to achieve the federal government’s Stage 2 standards for “Meaningful Use” of certified electronic health records (EHR). The system provides doctors and caregivers the opportunity for a safe, easy and quick way of storing and accessing patient information, especially in an emergency.  In addition to creating new efficiencies, the use of electronic health records also enhances patient safety by reducing medication duplication and alerting health care professionals to potentially dangerous drug interactions and allergies. In addition, by using the same IT infrastructure that is in place on the New Brunswick campus, RWJ Health System Partner RWJUH Hamilton earned Most Improved Status.

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RWJ Health System is a founding member of the largest health information exchange, Jersey Health Connect (JHC), in the state of New Jersey which allows the hospital to share clinical information with providers and patients across the continuum of care.  RWJUH New Brunswick has supported interface development with home care agencies, provider practices, and post-acute facilities.  These efforts are leading to improved patient outcomes, reductions in costs and readmission rates, and provide robust patient-specific clinical decision support. The New Brunswick campus is currently in Stage 2 attestation cycle for “Meaningful Use” of certified EHR. Additionally RWJUH New Brunswick has integrated critical care bedside medical device with EHR and has successfully deployed bar-coded medication administration system to improve patient care and outcomes. Through actively integrating financial applications across the health system, RWJUH New Brunswick has decreased IT operating expenses while increasing the quality of care for patients and access to information for physicians.

“Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is at the forefront of connecting providers throughout the continuum of care through the development of our accountable care organization, our participation in Jersey Health Connect and by expanding our Health System affiliates,” said Bob Irwin, CIO of Robert Wood Johnson University Health System. “Additionally we’re committed to connecting with our patients and the communities we serve through a comprehensive social media presence. Through our social media platforms we provide updates about free screenings, wellness programs and matters impacting the public such as cold snaps and heat waves. Through these efforts we’ve emerged as one of the leading healthcare providers in the social space in New Jersey.”

The “Most Wired” survey is an in-depth survey that looked at overall technology infrastructure at health systems throughout the country, including items such as security tools, to be sure that the day-to-day basic needs of their facilities are being met. The survey also included detailed information about how integrated an organization’s systems are and whether they can accommodate the increasing demand for electronic health information sharing.

For more information about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital please visit www.rwjuh.edu.

About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) is a 965-bed academic medical center with campuses in New Brunswick and Somerville, NJ.  Its Centers of Excellence include cardiovascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care, stroke care, neuroscience, joint replacement, and women’s and children’s care including The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (www.bmsch.org).  As the flagship Cancer Hospital of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the principal teaching hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, RWJUH is an innovative leader in advancing state-of-the-art care. A Level 1 Trauma Center and the only Pediatric Trauma Center in the state, RWJUH’s New Brunswick campus serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness.

RWJUH has been ranked among the best hospitals in America by U.S. News & World Report seven times and has been selected by the publication as a high performing hospital in numerous specialties.  The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital has been ranked among the best hospitals in America by U.S. News & World Report for three consecutive years.

Both the New Brunswick and Somerset campuses have earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety, including the prestigious Magnet® Award for Nursing Excellence, an “A” patient safety rating from the Leapfrog Group and “Most Wired” designation by Hospitals and Health Networks Magazine. The Joint Commission and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services have designated the New Brunswick Campus as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and the Somerset Campus as a Primary Stroke Center.

The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer has rated RWJUH New Brunswick among the nation’s best comprehensive cancer centers and designated the Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJ Somerset as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center.  The Joint Surgery Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for total knee and total hip replacement surgery.

For more Information visit us online at www.rwjuh.edu.

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