Washington Hospital Launches "WeCare," a Comprehensive Electronic Health Record System

Fremont, Calif., July 1, 2013 – Washington Hospital Healthcare System today launched “WeCare,” a comprehensive electronic health record system, in its inpatient, outpatient departments and at the Washington Outpatient Surgery Center. The electronic health record system is a product of Epic, a national leader in hospital electronic health record systems. “WeCare is a sophisticated electronic health record system that harnesses technology to put the patient’s health information at a provider’s fingertips so that they receive more personalized, accurate, and timely care,” said Nancy Farber, Chief Executive Officer of Washington Hospital Healthcare System. “Virtually anywhere patients go in Washington Hospital Healthcare System, their doctors, nurses and other care providers can access their medical history, allergies, and current medications, giving them the information they need to provide the very best care.”

WeCare creates a single patient record that seamlessly connects a patient’s health records with each part of Washington Hospital Healthcare System that they encounter, making it much easier for all care providers to work together as a team.

“WeCare improves communication and coordination of care between our providers which can result in better health decisions on a patient’s behalf,” added Ms. Farber. “We can also significantly reduce the potential for harmful drug interactions wherever patients go in the healthcare system, as their most up-to-date health information will be available.” WeCare means a patient will have a single medical chart available whenever he or she needs care within the Washington Hospital Healthcare System. Rather than having paper records in numerous locations — the nursing unit, the surgery center, the radiology department or the local physician office of Washington Township Medical Foundation or other affiliated offices associated with Washington Hospital — the same, complete medical chart will be available throughout the organization by means of this comprehensive and secure electronic record system.

“Electronic Health Record systems, and Epic specifically, are being or have been installed in large hospital systems and teaching hospitals such as UCSF Medical Center, Stanford Hospital, John Muir Health Medical Center, Kaiser and many others throughout California and elsewhere,” added Ms. Farber. “We are implementing WeCare because we must respond to the federal mandate to do so and we are committed to continuously improving the care we provide to our patients and our community. And I’m pleased to add that WeCare also benefits the environment. Every stack of paper files we reduce is another tree saved.”

Today’s WeCare go-live in Washington Hospital inpatient and outpatient departments and Washington Outpatient Surgery Center is the final stage of a system-wide implementation. Ambulatory areas went live starting late in 2012 in Washington Township Medical Foundation physician office practices, plus Ohlone Student Health Center, Washington on Wheels, Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, Washington Radiation Oncology Center, and Washington Urgent Care, as well as other Washington Hospital Healthcare System affiliated physician office practices. Washington Hospital will continue, depending on resources, to implement Epic in other interested community based physician office practices. This is through a program called “WeConnect.”

Washington Hospital Healthcare System will be implementing Washington MyChart, a patient portal, in the ambulatory physician practices late this summer. MyChart will give patients the ability to view test results, appointments, health history, current medications, and immunizations through a secure online system.

Washington Township Health Care District is governed by an elected board of directors. Unlike a municipal or county hospital, Washington Hospital’s operating expenses, research, community programs, and employee salaries are funded by revenues generated through providing patient and other health care services. Washington Hospital Healthcare System includes a 389-bed acute-care hospital; the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute; The Gamma Knife® Center; Washington Radiation Oncology Center; Washington Outpatient Surgery Center; Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center; Washington Outpatient Catheterization Laboratory; Washington Institute for Joint Restoration and Research; the Institute for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery; and Washington West, a complex which houses Washington Women’s Center, Outpatient Imaging Center, Sandy Amos R.N. Infusion Center, Washington Urgent Care and additional outpatient hospital services and administrative facilities.