Erickson Health nurses recognized by Health Data Management Magazine

(October 2007)—The nurses of Erickson Health are very electronically savvy. So much so, that their work in using the latest in information technology (IT) to create better care coordination for their patients was recognized in fall 2007 by the editors of Health Data Management magazine.

Specifically, they received HDM’s 2nd Annual Nursing Information Technology Innovation Award—ranking #1 among more than 50 entries submitted. The award cites the nursing group’s efforts in standardizing more than 60 forms among Erickson nursing homes in four states.

Because nurses are so often the lynchpin of patient care coordination, more and more of them are becoming experts at prescription drug and overall medical records coordination. And that’s led many of them to become more interested in, and adept in, electronic coordination of these records. There’s even a special classification for such nursing information specialists: nurse informaticists. Five of the eight nurses working on Erickson’s EMR (electronic medical records) are nurse informaticists.

"Coordination of care is obviously much more complex for seniors because they have to see a number of caregivers all ordering different treatments and medications,” points out Mark Erickson, COO of Baltimore-based Erickson Health.

Unfortunately, there is relatively little of this kind of coordination of care among seniors’ health professionals—mainly because so few health groups—doctors’ practices, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.—have electronic medical records. And it’s that which led the Erickson Health nurses to design their nursing home program.

For more on this story, read the complete version on HDM’s online edition.

Medicare Advantage health plan leadership wins national award

(October 2007)—The health plan leadership for Erickson’s Medicare Advantage plan was honored for the positive outcomes they’ve guided this plan towards in only two years. The Top Leadership Team award was given by Health Leaders Media.

On hand in Chicago to receive the award were Bruce Sturm, senior vice president of operations for this program, and Rick Grindrod, president of Erickson Health.

Listen to an interview between Health Leaders Media and Bruce Sturm.