Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Named 2008 Most Wired Hospital

July 15, 2008

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center has been named as one of the nation’s “Most Wired” hospitals, according to the results of the 2008 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study released today in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.
The purpose of the survey is to promote the effective use of information technology (IT) in achieving clinical and operational excellence. Medical centers nationwide are evaluated on improved outcomes in patient satisfaction, risk-adjusted mortality rates and other key quality measures through the use of IT.
“This award demonstrates the vision of the Medical Center's leadership team to provide high quality patient care through strategic use of information technology,” said Jonathan Brown, director of IT Security at Wake Forest Baptist. “We are thankful for the technical teams responsible for implementing and maintaining a reliable and secure computing environment. Their dedication and skills are the reason for the Medical Center winning this award for the fifth year.”
The 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems are determined by the Most Wired Survey, conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, the journal of the American Hospital Association. It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues.
“Health IT has shown incredible promise in helping us improve the quality and safety of the care hospitals deliver every day,” said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association. “The results of the Most Wired survey confirm that today’s patient also understands the benefits of IT in improving care and improving the overall hospital experience.”
Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2008 survey in cooperation with Accenture, McKesson Corp. and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

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Media Contacts: Lisa Davanzo, (336) 716-6906, ldavanzo@wfubmc.edu, Bonnie Davis, bdavis@wfubmc.edu, or Shannon Koontz, shkoontz@wfubmc.edu, at (336) 716-4587.

About the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study
Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, conducts the voluntary Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study annually and names the 100 Most Wired. Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. McKesson Corporation is the world’s largest healthcare services, technology and automation company. CHIME was formed with the dual objective of serving the professional development needs of healthcare chief information officers and advocating the more effective use of information management within health care.


Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (www.wfubmc.edu) is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Brenner Children’s Hospital, Wake Forest University Physicians, and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the university’s School of Medicine and Piedmont Triad Research Park. The system comprises 1,154 acute care, rehabilitation and long-term care beds and has been ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report since 1993. Wake Forest Baptist is ranked 32nd in the nation by America’s Top Doctors for the number of its doctors considered best by their peers. The institution ranks in the top third in funding by the National Institutes of Health and fourth in the Southeast in revenues from its licensed intellectual property.

Media Relations

Main Number: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587