January - February, 2002:  Negley, Ott & Associates, Inc. implemented ON-LINE CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION DOCUMENTATION FOR IMPROVED PATIENT CARE AND COST SAVINGS at New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation (Elmhurst Hospital Center).

In the past, the Cardiac Catheterization department at Elmhurst Hospital Center dictated the results of the procedure.  The dictation was sent to an outside transcription service and the turn-around-time for getting patient reports was a minimum of three (3) days.  In addition these hard copy reports were not available on-line.

A decision was made near the end of the year to automate this process. By working closely with one of the primary cardiologists, a template was developed to allow the physicians to document the results of the Cardiac Catheterization procedure directly into Ulticare® / Patient1® / Vista / Misys CPR™ / Misys CPOE™.   

After training for the Cardiologists and the Cardiology Fellows, this on-line documentation was brought live on Wednesday, February 6, 2002.  The physicians in the department felt the documentation was very easy and intuitive and were very excited that Cath reports were available on-line hours after the procedure was completed.  Not only did they feel that there was an immediate benefit to patient care but they were able to discontinue the outside transcription service and save the department the cost of this service.