Designation exemplifies efforts to enhance patient care through innovative IT strategies

Northwestern Memorial Hospital has once again been honored as one of the “100 Most Wired Hospitals” in the nation, as designated by Hospitals & Health Networks, the flagship publication of the American Hospital Association. This is the ninth year that Northwestern Memorial has been recognized by the publication for its effective use of information technology to achieve clinical and operational excellence.

Organizations named to this prestigious list excel in the use of information technology to address safety and quality issues, customer service, business processes, workforce and public health and safety. Northwestern Memorial has been named a winner in two categories, the “100 Most Wired” and “Most Wireless,” an honor given to the 25 organizations who received the highest marks for use of wireless applications.

“It is an honor to be recognized as one of the nation’s ‘Most Wired’ and ‘Most Wireless’ hospitals.  The award embodies our ongoing strategic commitment to use technology to advance the safety, quality and efficiency of patient care at Northwestern Memorial”, says Tim Zoph, senior vice president, administration and chief information officer at Northwestern Memorial. “In the past year we achieved significant information technology advancements in emergency services, surgical operations and aggregating information for patient care research.”

The “Most Wired” awards are based on survey results from more than 1,300 hospital and health systems around the country. Northwestern Memorial is one of seven hospitals in Illinois to make the 2009 “100 Most Wired” list and one of only four to make the 2009 “Most Wireless” ranking. The July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks detailing the results can be found online at hhnmag.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Amy Dobrozsi, 312-926-5900
adobrozs@nmh.org