By Healthcare Facilities Today

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman is one of 160 health care facilities nationwide recognized for its efforts to go paperless by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Analytics, a health information technology association, according to an article on the Kaufman Herald website.

The hospital earned a Stage 7 Award from the organization, the highest level of electronic health record adoption a hospital can receive.

The hospital uses the computer-based electronic health record system where medical records are organized, shared and managed. The system is accessed by doctors, nurses and caregivers in the hospital, and is linked to other health care facilities.

“The electronic health record has greatly improved shared access and communication of health care information in real time,” Dr. Mark Sij, Kaufman chief medical officer, said in the article. “This is a valuable tool for not only our care team but our patients and the community.”

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Analytics program measures a hospital's implementation and use medical records on a scale of 0-7, with 7 indicating the hospital is completely paperless.

Thirteen hospitals in Texas reached a Stage 7 designation and 13 percent of hospitals in the nation reached stages 6 or 7.

Read the article.