“Half a million times each year – an average of once every minute – an ambulance carrying an emergency patient is diverted from an Emergency Department (ED) that is full and sent to one that is farther away.” (From the Future of Emergency Care in the U.S. Health System by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.)

Overcrowded and underfunded, many EDs are reaching the breaking point.While the number of patient visits to the ED is increasing, the total number of hospitals providing emergency care is declining. Increasingly responsible for primary care, particularly for the uninsured, emergency departments bear a disproportionate share of costs while financial losses mount. And although EDs are on the front lines of disaster preparedness, they have not seen a significant increase in funding.

The Institute of Medicine recommends increasing the use of information technology as one component in improving efficiency, patient safety and overall quality of ED care. Wellsoft Corporation is a pioneer in providing software for emergency medicine, with 18 years of experience. The top-ranked product in its field eight times, the Wellsoft v10 Emergency Department Information System (EDIS) leads the market.

Experience

A blend of clinical and technical expertise, the Wellsoft team is committed to exceeding their clients’ needs. With EDIS implementations ranging from a 6-hospital, enterprisewide installation to a single community hospital, Wellsoft meets the needs of each emergency department. Recognized for providing the most complete functionality and most configurable product in the marketplace, the Wellsoft solution is more than just software. Every step of the way, from redesigning work flow and improving processes, through implementation, training and support, Wellsoft provides expert, personal assistance.

Streamlined Process

Extensive work flow analysis by Wellsoft project managers is a defining feature of Wellsoft v10 implementations.Wellsoft performs a thorough on-site review of the emergency department process, identifying normal clinical flow and exceptions, anticipating potential bottlenecks. The Wellsoft system is then custom-configured to tightly weave the software into the work flow of the department.Wellsoft work flow engineering streamlines processes, reducing length of stay, left without being seen and wait times.

Flexibility

Flexibility is a key attribute of the Wellsoft system. Wellsoft v10 accommodates multiple platforms, is highly configurable to meet individual hospital work flow requirements, interfaces with any system that supports the Health Level 7 standard and requires no proprietary hardware. The system supports any standard input devices, including touch screen and wireless devices. Clients choose only the functionality they need, and the EDIS can be expanded at any time. This flexibility enables Wellsoft to configure the system easily to support the goals of any hospital system.

Return on Investment

Using the Wellsoft system results in increased efficiency in patient throughput in the emergency department.Wellsoft v10 patient tracking, nurse and physician documentation, orders and results, reporting and charge capture provide the tools for greater efficiency. “Working smarter” reduces waiting time, length of stay and elopements, maximizing capacity. Documentation templates result in improved charge capture and reduced paper costs. Real-time chart availability eliminates lost charts, improves communication and reduces errors. Patient aftercare instructions and electronic prescriptions decrease liability. Auto-faxing and reporting decrease manual labor costs. Meaningful data for addressing bottlenecks, increasing accountability and meeting CMS, JCAHO and Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act reporting requirements is automatically collected. In today’s financial climate, IT expenditures must deliver overall value and real cost savings – the Wellsoft system achieves both.