MetroHealth Connection
U.S. health information technology leader spotlights MetroHealth electronic medical record practices
 Farzad Mostashari, MD, the White House’s health information technology coordinator, recently spent a half-day at MetroHealth to learn how physicians and staff have become leaders in implementing electronic health records (EHR).
Dr. Mostashari, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, is the leader on this issue and is President Obama’s point person on health information technology.
During his visit to the MetroHealth Broadway Health Center, Dr. Mostashari met with physicians and administrators to learn about how MetroHealth is successfully using EHRs and other tools in Epic to improve health outcomes. He learned that MetroHealth:
- Was the first safety net provider in world to install Epic in 1999
- Is in the top 10% of all health care systems in completeness of EHR implementation
- Is among the top 3 Epic customers in order entry for four quarters running
- Has received national awards for its EHR advances.
Dr. Mostashari was already familiar with MetroHealth’s trailblazing use of EHRs through a Sept. 1, 2011, New England Journal of Medicine article by MetroHealth’s Randy Cebul, MD. Dr. Cebul’s article supports the premise that meaningful use of EHRs improves the quality and outcomes of patient care. Dr. Mostashari said the piece is “groundbreaking” and that he frequently quotes it.
Dr. Mostashari also lauded work by MetroHealth’s Chief Medical Informatics Officer David Kaelber, MD, PhD, MPH. Dr. Kaelber’s EMR work has led to more children being diagnosed with and treated for high blood pressure. Dr. Mostashari likened it to discovering the Post-it note, pointing out that the work could not have been accomplished using paper medical records.
Dr. Mostashari asked detailed questions throughout the visit and Tweeted to his followers during the day. The visit included a tour of the Broadway facility and a number of real-life EHR demonstrations.
Tweets from Dr. Mostashari during his MetroHealth visit:
“Busting the myth’’ disadvantaged pop(ulation) can use patient portals-60% have web access, family helps, other providers
MetroHealth moving to patient portals to reduce cost (including for employee care) as well as empowering patients
“Can’t do it on paper’’ MetroHealth used [EHR] data to identify massive underdiagnosis of pediatric hypertension adjusting for age, sex, ht (height)
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