Same Personalized Patient Care, Now with Added Ease, Efficiency and Collaboration

Patients at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) will notice something a little different about the personalized care they receive during their next hospital visits. That’s because YRMC has implemented a new state-of-the-art Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system – called Project CARE. High tech meets high touch with this secure high speed medical record network that gives YRMC caregivers quick access to patient medical information from anywhere within YRMC’s hospital locations in Prescott and Prescott Valley.

Paper charts are now a thing of the past at YRMC as caregivers use a variety of sophisticated tools that range from mobile computing carts and wall mount systems to digital scanners to support the personalized care they provide to patients. These computing devices link YRMC caregivers with patient medical records via a highly secure data center that uses encryption and other sophisticated safeguards to protect patient information.

“Project CARE is consistent with our Vision of a Total Healing Environment,” says YRMC President and CEO Tim Barnett. “Patients will always receive the personalized, one-to-one care they depend on, but now with the added assurance that their medical records are always up-to-date and right where our caregivers need them, when they need them,” states Barnett.

Project CARE supports great patient care.

Providing patients with advanced healthcare will always be the primary motivation at YRMC. Project CARE is a great example of this commitment. “Everything we do at YRMC is guided by our Vision and Values,” states Barnett. “We carefully evaluate every opportunity and we always ask ourselves if it’s the very best thing we can do for our patients. In the case of an EMR, we are positive that it’s the right thing to do.”

YRMC’s new EMR – when combined with the personal touch of caregivers at the bedside – creates a new level of communication, safety and sharing.

• With the new EMR, patient medical records are more complete so patients won’t have to answer the same questions again and again.
• As caregivers spend less time charting, they will have more time to do what they do best – provide great patient care.
• Because the medical records are digital, it won’t be necessary to decipher handwriting.
• Test results are available in real-time.
• Caregivers can immediately check for drug-to-drug and drug allergy interactions.
• Accuracy is increased on all levels. From prescriptions that are sent to the pharmacy, to orders for tests and other procedures, to special dietary restrictions– information will be transmitted faster and more clearly than ever before.

Big project. Big rewards.

The launch of Project CARE is the result of over two years of careful planning and research that involved hundreds of dedicated YRMC staff members. Considerable improvements were made to YRMC’s information systems, workflows were enhanced, and extensive training programs were designed to prepare YRMC staff to use the new tools.

“Our caregivers will now utilize the latest information technology rather than a paper chart when providing care to their patients,” says YRMC Chief Nursing Officer Diane Drexler, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE. “An EMR won’t replace critical thinking skills however – it’s an adjunct to our training and education that provides real-time access to patient information right at our fingertips.” With paper charting, only one caregiver at a time can look at a patient’s medical record.

With the new EMR, multiple YRMC caregivers can view a patient’s medical chart—from physician orders to vital signs, x-rays and test results—at the same time, from different locations. This is particularly important in emergency situations when seconds count.