KLAS: EDs seek functionality, integration
As hospitals consider emergency department (ED) strategies to help satisfy meaningful use objectives, they seek a blend of functionality and integration, according to a report by healthcare research firm KLAS.
KLAS, of Orem, Utah, compiled feedback from more than 700 providers to investigate the effect of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on ED purchasing priorities, as well as to highlight vendor progress in delivering both clinical functionality and integration.
“Providers using best-of-breed ED information system (EDIS) products most often describe their computerized physician order entry, medication reconciliation and nurse/physician documentation tools as strong; however, some enterprise EDIS vendors are climbing the ladder as they develop more functionality,” the report noted.
According to the report, integration is still a focus for many organizations, and many are willing to sacrifice some functionality for integration and anticipated functional improvements in the future. As a result, only 69 percent of best-of-breed clients indicated that their current system is part of their long-term plan, compared with 93 percent of enterprise customers.
“Best-of-breed EDIS vendors want to meet their customers’ needs for integration, and Allscripts, MedHost and Wellsoft have led the way, receiving above-average scores in this area,” the report stated. “However, providers report that enterprise vendors with their own EDIS offerings, such as Allscripts, Cerner, Epic, McKesson and Meditech, are often less motivated to work with best-of-breed vendors to develop interfaces.”
Tying with scores of 88.2 out of 100, enterprise vendor Epic and best-of-breed vendor Wellsoft took the top spots in the report. They were followed by MedHost (83.8) and Allscripts (83.2). The report also highlighted Cerner, Eclipsys, Emergisoft, EmpowER, McKesson, Meditech, Picis and T-System.
KLAS, of Orem, Utah, compiled feedback from more than 700 providers to investigate the effect of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on ED purchasing priorities, as well as to highlight vendor progress in delivering both clinical functionality and integration.
“Providers using best-of-breed ED information system (EDIS) products most often describe their computerized physician order entry, medication reconciliation and nurse/physician documentation tools as strong; however, some enterprise EDIS vendors are climbing the ladder as they develop more functionality,” the report noted.
According to the report, integration is still a focus for many organizations, and many are willing to sacrifice some functionality for integration and anticipated functional improvements in the future. As a result, only 69 percent of best-of-breed clients indicated that their current system is part of their long-term plan, compared with 93 percent of enterprise customers.
“Best-of-breed EDIS vendors want to meet their customers’ needs for integration, and Allscripts, MedHost and Wellsoft have led the way, receiving above-average scores in this area,” the report stated. “However, providers report that enterprise vendors with their own EDIS offerings, such as Allscripts, Cerner, Epic, McKesson and Meditech, are often less motivated to work with best-of-breed vendors to develop interfaces.”
Tying with scores of 88.2 out of 100, enterprise vendor Epic and best-of-breed vendor Wellsoft took the top spots in the report. They were followed by MedHost (83.8) and Allscripts (83.2). The report also highlighted Cerner, Eclipsys, Emergisoft, EmpowER, McKesson, Meditech, Picis and T-System.