CentraState Medical Center Streamlines Administration of Medication Education to Advance Quality of Care

Nation’s First EMR Integration of Medication Content Uses
TeleHealth
Services’ Interactive Patient Engagement System

FREEHOLD, N.J. & RALEIGH, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CentraState
Medical Center is establishing a new benchmark for patient education
best practices by integrating video medication education with a
patient’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) using in-room televisions.
Partnering with TeleHealth
Services, the 284-bed hospital is optimizing clinical workflows
while proactively addressing readmissions, HCAHPS score improvement and
Meaningful Use initiatives.

Located in central New Jersey, CentraState is the first hospital in the
nation to initiate patient-specific video education automatically when
medications are prescribed into the EMR utilizing TeleHealth Services’
SmarTigr interactive patient education and engagement solution.
TeleHealth Services is the nation’s leading provider of hospital
televisions and interactive patient engagement systems.

The integrated workflow system prompts hospital patients to watch a
brief video, in English or Spanish, as their physician completes the
prescription order. Patients see the notification in their personal “My
To-Do List” displayed on their in-room television. They navigate to the
information through their pillow-speaker.

Patients learn what medications are prescribed, why they are taking
them, and what side effects are possible. Nurses are automatically
informed about what videos patients view and are prompted to discuss the
medications and answer any questions. These education events are also
recorded in the EMR to easily track a patient’s education viewing
history and comprehension.

Providing timely medication education information is one of many ways
CentraState uses the SmarTigr system from TeleHealth Services to advance
the quality, safety and efficiency of care while engaging patients and
family as care team members. The CentraState patient portal (a means for
patients to access their personal health information online) is also
promoted via the SmarTigr system.

“We knew the SmarTigr system could help us advance our patient-centered
mission. This system continues to evolve to meet the needs of staff and
patients, and has become a powerful tool to improve care said Fiesta
Clanton, MSN, ACNS-BC, RN and director of professional development and
education at CentraState. “Coinciding the prescription of video
education along with the medication and being able to track that process
is an effective tool for improving care and patient satisfaction.”

Matt Barker, vice president of marketing for TeleHealth Services called
the integration of video medication information with the patient EMR a
milestone for the entire industry. “This is an example of how patient
education and engagement systems are establishing a foundational
platform to meet the dynamic needs of hospitals and patient care.
Interoperability was built into the SmarTigr system specifically to
address patient-centered clinical and non-clinical applications. We’re
focused on providing the tools that will improve clinical outcomes by
educating and engaging patients, while helping hospitals fulfill
mandated EMR meaningful use requirements, improve patient satisfaction
and reduce readmissions.”

Barbara Aellis-Hynes, director of telecommunications at CentraState,
said the medical center is seeing results with patient education and
engagement solutions with measured patient portal access exceeding CMS
requirements. “By using our patient portal, our Meaningful Use goals are
more obtainable. CentraState is proud to be improving engagement and
patient outcomes as well as exceeding national quality standards,” she
said.

Earlier this year, Hospitals & Health Networks, a
journal of the American Hospital Association (AHA), recognized
CentraState Medical Center as one of the nation’s Most Wired health care
organizations for the sixth year in a row, according to the results of
the magazine’s annual survey. The prestigious distinction recognizes
health care organizations that have successfully adopted information
technology in four critical areas: infrastructure; business and
administrative management; clinical quality and safety; and clinical
integration.

About CentraState Healthcare System

CentraState Healthcare System is a nonprofit community health
organization consisting of an acute-care hospital, a health and wellness
campus, three senior living communities, a Family Medicine Residency
Program, and a charitable foundation. CentraState’s teaching program is
sponsored by Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

About TeleHealth Services

With more than 2,500 healthcare clients across the country, TeleHealth
Services is the nation’s leading provider of integrated technology and
communications solutions for the healthcare market. Combining 50+ years
of healthcare expertise and partnerships with industry leading
manufacturers, TeleHealth Services is uniquely positioned to offer a
full suite of hospital technology solutions that includes:

• Interactive
  patient education platforms
• Comprehensive
  hospital television systems
• Bedside
  patient entertainment solutions
• Comprehensive
  design, implementation, and service packages
• Flexible
  financing solutions
• Complete
  healthcare audio visual solutions

Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., TeleHealth Services is a division of
Telerent Leasing Corporation. Telerent, founded in 1957, operates as a
subsidiary of ITOCHU International, Inc. For more information on
TeleHealth, call 800-733-8610, or visit http://www.telehealth.com/.

Contacts

TeleHealth Services
Matt Barker, 919-719-7031
Vice President,
Marketing
matt.barker@telehealth.com