The Behavioral Health Electronic Medical Record Pilot is Underway2022-11-21T15:42:18+00:00
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The Behavioral Health Electronic Medical Record Pilot is Underway

The Behavioral Health (BH) Division has launched the first two planned Cerner Electronic Medical Record (EMR) pilots, starting with Fairmount Behavioral Health in October and Friends Hospital on November 8. Brooke Glen, The Horsham Clinic and Hampton Behavioral Health Center are scheduled to go live in the first quarter of 2023.

“The Cerner EMR pilot marks a milestone in Behavioral Health’s commitment to continually enhance the experiences we deliver to our patients and providers, while empowering and supporting the incredibly dedicated individuals at our facilities,” said Karen E. Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Behavioral Health Division.

Karen Johnson

“The Cerner EMR pilot marks a milestone in Behavioral Health’s commitment to continually enhance the experiences we deliver to our patients and providers.”

Karen E. Johnson

Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Behavioral Health Division

The UHS-customized BH EMR system includes the ability to document the Master Treatment Plan and route for signatures electronically, perform patient safety observation rounds using an iPad, document group therapy sessions, include electronic patient signatures on forms for Intake and Discharge, along with many other standard EMR functions for documentation, order management and bar-coded medication administration — all tasks that today are completed either on paper or in disparate systems.

Fairmount Behavioral Hospital Cerner team in lobby
BH Pilot team members
Karen Johnson cutting cake at Friends Hospital
Friends Hospital employee standing in corridor with balloons overhead

Since the project launch in October 2021, the project team of approximately 140 people, including individuals from Information Systems along with BH leaders and BH subject matter experts, has worked diligently to develop, design, build and implement a standardized system that is specifically for UHS BH facilities.

“Through agility, ingenuity and incredible commitment and tenacity, the implementation team delivered a solution that meets the unique needs of our BH patients and staff, while helping to shape the gold standard for other Cerner behavioral health clients,” Karen said. “A very special thank you to the team for pioneering the Behavioral Health EMR journey.”