Tower Health recognized for technology use
Earns 2020 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired designation
WEST READING » Tower Health has earned 2020 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired recognition for its Acute and Ambulatory care areas. Through an annual survey, the CHIME Digital Health Most Wired program assesses how effectively healthcare organizations apply core and advanced technologies into their clinical and business programs.
The Berks County-based health system achieved Digital Health Certification Level 7 for both areas — on a 1-10 rating scale. The ranking represents each participating organization’s achievements and allows them to benchmark the results against a “defined worldwide industry standard,” according to a press release.
“We are pleased to once again be recognized by CHIME with the Most Wired Recognition for the acute health settings and now our ambulatory locations,” Michelle Trupp, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Tower Health, said in the release. “We continue to enhance and expand the options our patients have to meet with their physician when and where they need it.”
Trupp said last year, Reading Hospital was recognized as a certified Level 7 Most Wired Facility. This year’s rankings included other Tower Health facilities including: Pottstown Hospital, Phoenixville Hospital, Brandywine Hospital, Jennersville Hospital and Chestnut Hill Hospital.
“We are proud of the expansion of the Most Wired recognition from CHIME to all Tower Health hospitals and facilities as it demonstrates our ongoing commitment to use technology in service to our patients,” Trupp said
in an emailed response to questions.
She added that the recognition is important for Tower Health patients and the communities served by the health system because it demonstrates “that Tower Health is dedicated to providing cutting-edge technology for our patients and our physicians.”
One example of Tower Health’s leadership in technology is its expansion of virtual care options for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients can use virtual visits as an alternative to in-person appointments — including follow-up care, urgent care, or select appointments for new patients. Virtual care services are available 24/7/365, according to the release, providing patients secure and convenient access to care through their mobile device, tablet or computer.
Another example of technologies the health care system has implemented is a virtual intensive care unit.
“This unit allows physicians at Reading Hospital to help monitor ICU patients at other Tower Health hospitals,” Trupp added.
A total of 30,091 organizations were represented in the 2020 Digital Health Most Wired program, which this year included four separate surveys: Domestic, Ambulatory, Long-term care and International. The surveys assessed the adoption, integration and impact of technologies in healthcare organizations at all stages of development.
Each participating organization received a customized benchmarking report, an overall score and scores for individual levels in eight segments: infrastructure; security; business/disaster recovery; administrative/supply chain; analytics/data management; interoperability/ population health; patient engagement; and clinical quality/safety.
“One area that we are particularly proud of is our clinical quality and safety where we scored in the 90th percentile. The safety of our patients is of utmost importance to our team members and this acknowledgement from CHIME verifies their dedication to the patients and communities we serve.” Trupp said.
According to CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell, digital technology has been a driver of innovation in healthcare for many years, “but never to the degree that we saw in 2020 with the pandemic.”
“The Digital Health Most Wired program underscores why healthcare organizations keep pushing themselves to be digital leaders and shows what amazing feats they can achieve. This certification recognizes Tower Health’s exemplary performance in 2020,” he said.
This is the third year that CHIME has conducted the survey and overseen the program. In each successive year, CHIME has expanded the survey to capture more types of organizations that serve patients across the continuum of care.
For more information about the CHIME Digital Health Most Wired program, visit https://chimecentral.org/chime-mostwired
In addition to its hospitals, Tower Health includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing; Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading; home healthcare services provided by Tower Health at Home; and a network of 25 urgent care facilities across the Tower Health service area. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.