Use of Health Information Technology at the Red Lake Hospital

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, part of the Recovery Act signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009, designated funding to modernize the health care system by promoting and expanding the adoption of health information technology by hospitals and clinicians through Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments to health institutions’ for meaningful use of the Electronic Health Records. It also authorized grant programs and contracts that support Heath Information Technology by providing technical assistance to health care providers, especially rural and underserved communities; training a Health Information Technology workforce; as well as developing standards for certification of electronic heath record (EHR) privacy and security.

The use of Health Information Technology at the Red Lake Hospital started in 2005 when the Outpatient Department went from paper medical charts to the use of the Electronic Health Record (EHR). The staffs from various departments; Outpatient Clinic, Pharmacy, Medical Records and Billing coders were trained. The trend continued as the implementation of the Electronic Record (EHR) spread to other departments throughout the Red Lake Hospital facility. Between 2006 and 2007 the Eye Clinic and Behavioral Health Departments began using the Electronic Health Record. In 2010 the Inpatient Department staff were trained and started using the Electronic Health Record.

Currently we are training the staff in the Emergency Room on using the Electronic Health Record process. By doing so you may experience some slight delays as the staff becomes knowledgeable about using a system that will improve the safety, quality and efficiency of care. We would like to add by no means would any delays interrupt any life threatening situations. Those medical cases would be taken care of promptly and quickly. We here at the Red Lake Hospital are always looking for ways to improve our services and care to the patients and community members of the Red Lake Nation. For the Red Lake Hospital to become a facility where the Electronic Health record is used in each and every department will help us provide additional quality health care delivery to you. We thank you for your patience as the Emergency Room transitions through learning a new system.

Thank you for using the Red Lake Hospital for your Healthcare needs. Watch for the upcoming news and information about our Same Day Clinic.