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Olathe Medical Center (OMC) was named a 2021 Digital Health Most Wired organization by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) for the fourth consecutive year. Designed to improve patient safety and outcomes by driving change in the healthcare IT industry, the annual Digital Health Most Wired program helps identify and benchmark healthcare organizations that are adopting, implementing and using information technology.

Using a scale of 1 to ten, qualifying acute, ambulatory, and long-term and post-acute care providers are assigned a level to indicate their varying achievements. OMC received a Level 7 Acute score and a Level 8 Ambulatory score, rankings that indicate OMC has successfully leveraged technology to begin achieving meaningful, analysis-driven clinical and efficiency outcomes.

“The pandemic created unprecedented healthcare technology challenges,” Nicholas Sindorf, interim vice president/chief information officer, said. “The OMC Information Technology team met those challenges while achieving new successes along the way. This recognition reflects those efforts.”

A few technological advancements launched in 2021 to help improve clinical outcomes were:

• Enhanced telehealth service: Available at all primary and specialty care locations, OMC’s telehealth services allow patients to receive care in a fast, secure and easy format using a live virtual environment on a smartphone, tablet or computer. These virtual care services are available for patients with common illnesses like colds, rashes and more; post-surgery follow-up visits; medication checks and wellness visits.
• A new health information exchange: To further support continuity of care, Olathe Health worked with CommonWell to roll out a secure electronic information-sharing portal for physicians. As physicians transfer care, the portal helps minimize readmissions to hospitals, avoid duplicate testing, and reduce medication and medical errors.
• Clinical decision support for Advanced Imaging orders: As a provider places an Advanced Imaging order, the computer checks Appropriate Use criteria to ensure the exam is suitable for the clinical indications.

About Olathe Health

Established in 1953, Olathe Health is an independent, nonprofit regional health system powered by 2,500 employees and 350 providers. Comprised of two nationally accredited hospitals (Olathe Medical Center and Miami County Medical Center) and more than 60 primary care and specialty care locations, the Olathe Health network serves multiple counties in the greater Kansas City area. Inspired by innovation, Olathe Health offers advanced cardiology, oncology, orthopedic and obstetrics care close to home. By leveraging advanced technology, top talent and community partnerships, Olathe Health furthers its mission of helping people through health, healing and happiness.