The Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) in Northern Germany, is the first hospital to have embarked upon the Continuity of Care assessment carried out by HIMSS Analytics in Europe.
The results revealed that the region of Schleswig-Holstein, with UKSH as one of the key care providers in the region, is at the early stages of the Continuity of Care Maturity Model, providing opportunities for improvement, which can be initiated and led by a forward-thinking team of experts at the UKSH.
Uta Knöchel, Head of the IT Department, added: "Completing the first evaluation of the HIMSS Analytics CCMM has certainly helped us in identifying where some of our weaknesses lie and in giving us clear direction as to what we should focus on next. The aim for us would ultimately be to achieve closed loop care coordination across all care team members, in order for our patients to have the best experience we can deliver."
The data collection was carried out via a unique survey, comprising more than 250 compliance statements from 11 different focus areas. The assessment looked at five different Care Settings in that region: Primary Care, Acute Care, Emergency Care, Long Term Care and Home Care. The data, which had been collected was analysed using the HIMSS Analytics CCMM algorithm, with results being presented based on the Stage Model. In that model Stage 0 is the lowest, indicating limited to no electronic communication between care providers and interdisciplinary care teams, while Stage 7 is the highest level to attain, representing a "knowledge driven engagement for a dynamic, multi-vendor, multi-organisational interconnected healthcare delivery mode."
Despite Schleswig-Holstein having scored low on the model, Jörg Studzinski, Senior Consultant at HIMSS Analytics in Europe and part of the team that assessed UKSH, said: "Enabling continuity of care is a complex and challenging effort. UKSH is shifting its focus and is willing to invest in putting the patient at the centre of the care process, not only within the walls of their hospital, but within the whole federal state of Schleswig-Holstein and their multitude of care providing organisations.
"UKSH has wanted to use the CCMM from the early stages already, which positions them as a leading innovative European care provider and we look forward to continuing to support them with their forward way of thinking."
One of the projects the UKSH is working on is the "Electronic Discharge Letter". Discharge letters at UKSH are currently printed and sometimes even posted, and the aim is for UKSH to be the pioneering hospital in enabling electronic discharge letters which could be digitally exchanged throughout the Schleswig Holstein region.
About HIMSS Analytics in Europe
HIMSS Analytics in Europe provides healthcare organisations, governments and industry with extensive data resources and services about the adoption and use of healthcare IT in Europe. HIMSS Analytics' offerings include database and advisory solutions which encompass market research, IT adoption benchmarking, IT Maturity Models for topics like Electronic Medical Records or Continuity of Care. These offerings are designed to support Management and CIOs, IT Executives and Clinicians from across Europe to compare and measure their progress.
About the Continuity of Care Maturity Model
Continuity of Care is defined as the alignment of healthcare resources, across care settings, coordinated in a way that delivers the best healthcare services and value possible for a defined population. Through the collection and analysis of specific data, the HIMSS Analytics Continuity of Care Maturity Model (CCMM) aims to support hospitals across the globe improve their non-disruptive care process through a patient's journey.
About Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein
The University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) is one of the largest university medical centres in Europe. It combines cutting-edge international research with interdisciplinary care provision and high-quality education of next generation physicians.
With more than 13.000 employees in more than 80 clinics and departments, UKSH is the largest employer within the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein and the only care provider offering all types of services of modern medicine. Offering highly specialised care on the one hand and highly individualised care on the other, UKSH is essential for the people of Schleswig-Holstein.