BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : DECEMBER 11, 2000 ISSUE
BUSINESS WEEK E.BIZ -- SPECIAL REPORT The Electronic Hospital Two famed Boston hospitals--Brigham & Women's and Massachusetts General--are using information technology to revolutionize medicine. Here's a look at some of their most important initiatives: Electronic Medical Records Replace cumbersome paper medical records and the multiple charts kept on most patients, with a single electronic record. Benefits: Organizes information in a consistent fashion, while avoiding the delays that occur when paper records are misplaced or can't be found. Electronic Order Entry Doctors enter orders for prescriptions, X-rays, lab tests, etc., into a computer system, which instantly checks the order for possible problems--such as drug interactions or allergies. Benefits: Has cut the number of serious medication errors by 55%, and produced 10-to-1 financial payback by suggesting less expensive drugs. Digital Radiology Replaces old-fashioned, film-based system with digital imaging and Web ordering and scheduling. Benefits: Avoids film loss, allows multiple doctors to view the same image simultaneously, and cuts costs by saving on film storage. Telemedicine Uses the Net and videoconferencing to help specialists care for patients far beyond Boston. Benefits: Dramatically expands the hospitals' reach and cuts costs by allowing many patients to receive an opinion without traveling to Boston. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP					e.biz Contents for Dec. 11, 2000 issue RELATED ITEMS How E-Hospitals Can Save Your Life TABLE: The Electronic Hospital INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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