Rural IT
Information technology challenges in the heartland
Dear Reader
We’re pleased to present this special supplement to Hospitals & Health Networks. It’s the result of a partnership with Siemens Medical Solutions to advise small and rural hospital executives on the IT challenges they face and help identify strategies to promote adoption.
The content of this supplement was developed with the assistance of Health Forum’s Small and Rural IT Educational Advisory Group and American Hospital Association policy staff, as well as issues raised during an educational session at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting.
Special thanks to the leaders of Siemens for their support of this project. I trust that you’ll find this supplement valuable to your organization.
Sincerely,
Alden Solovy
Executive Editor and Associate Publisher
Health Forum
Small and Rural IT Challenges
Facing tight budgets, limited access to support staff and the inherent difficulties of a remote location, several small and rural hospitals are finding creative ways to hurdle the obstacles to information technology adoption. By Chris Serb
What Rural Connectivity Could Look Like
Providence Health & Human Services relies on economies of scale to provide IT services to caregivers in Spokane, Wash., and 50 rural counties in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, California and Alaska.
By Laurie Larson
Resources for Funding Rural IT Projects
The cost of electronic health records or bar-coding technology often is far beyond the budgets of small and rural hospitals. Here are four sources for funding.
By Laurie Larson
Exclusive Most Wired Data
Online access to medical histories and image reports is common in small and rural hospitals, according to 2006 survey data. Adoption of electronic medication ordering and matching, however, is still in the early stages.
Computerized laboratory and radiology functions in CAHs
Siemens at the Forefront of Small and Rural IT
Despite the challenges facing small and rural health care providers in their journey toward automation, this year’s American Hospital Association Annual Membership Meeting provided an excellent forum for showcasing the progress being made by providers in this important sector. As evidenced through the Siemens-sponsored educational event on IT adoption among small and rural providers and this corresponding supplement, IT is making its way to the top of many small and rural providers’ strategic priority lists.
The education session and its related advisory group provided the opportunity for open dialogue and best practice sharing on issues such as financing, implementation and staffing strategies. This type of dialogue must continue, as we simply can’t allow small and rural providers to remain stagnant on the IT adoption curve —especially as we move toward greater transparency in health care. Cost and quality concerns are not reserved for metropolitan areas alone.
Siemens is proud to partner with the American Hospital Association to help address the critical issues facing rural health care providers, and we are committed to providing innovative solutions to meet the needs of small hospitals.
We hope you find this supplement beneficial.
Sincerely,
Janet Dillione
President, Healthcare IT Division
Siemens Medical Solutions
Small and Rural IT
This article 1st appeared in the August 2006 issue of HHN Magazine.
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