UT Health San Antonio has been recognized as a “Digital Health Most Wired” organization by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), an organization serving senior health care information technology leaders.
The award is based on an annual survey designed to identify and recognize health care organizations that exemplify best practices through their adoption, implementation and use of information technology.
Among more than 55,000 facilities represented, UT Health San Antonio ranked above peers in categories like analytics and data management, population health, infrastructure and patient engagement. The survey assessed the impact of technologies in health care organizations at all stages of development, from those in early development to industry leaders.
“As a health care institution, we are very proud to receive this award as it recognizes our dedication to excellence in digital health,” said Yeman Collier, vice president and chief information officer of UT Health San Antonio. “This recognition puts us among a select number of institutions worldwide that elevate the health and health care of communities through the optimal use of information technology.”
UT Health San Antonio earned a “Certified Level 8” designation, earning it a “most wired” designation for institutions in levels 7 through 10.
“We are proud to recognize your organization’s exceptional dedication to digital health excellence,” said CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell, in his notification to the winners. “Your pioneering performance in the industry not only inspires other organizations by example, but also provides patients around the world with better care.”
Collier said UT Health San Antonio’s recognition is based in large part on a willingness to embrace technology innovation that leads to:
- Improved quality, safety and outcomes across the clinical and research enterprises.
- Enhanced patient and caregiver experience and satisfaction while strengthening its reputation in the community.
- Increased collaboration and knowledge-sharing with both internal and external constituencies.
- Speeding scientific discovery and improving access to clinical studies, especially for very rare diseases.
Each participant in the CHIME survey receives a benchmarking report that can be used to assess their current health IT program, providing a “digital health check-up” for health care organizations.
Amid escalating challenges posed by growing cybersecurity threats, evolving care models, staffing shortages and budget constraints, the call for revolutionizing health care through technology is moving forward at a rapid pace, according to CHIME.
“A key objective for UT Health San Antonio is to continue transforming health care by leveraging technology to not only address current clinical challenges, but also accelerate the pace of biomedical research discovery and enhance educating the next generation of caregivers and life science experts,” Collier said.