Gundersen among nation's 'Most Wired' hospitals and health systems

Gundersen has made Hospitals & Health Networks (H&HN) magazine's 2017 "Most Wired" list for the fifth year.

This 19th annual technology survey, conducted in partnership with the American Hospital Association and a healthcare security firm, recognizes U.S. hospitals and health organizations that excel at using information technology (IT) to improve performance in a number of areas, including quality and safety of patient care.

"What a wonderful tribute to our staff! At Gundersen Health System we're committed to the hard but meaningful work of enriching lives and enhancing health every day. Sometimes that's through a difficult surgery, or the birth of a baby, sometimes through complex analytics, data, and technology. When all of those pieces fit together—with energy and passion—we achieve excellence. We see it, and we're grateful you do, too. Thank you for this honor," says Scott Rathgaber, MD, CEO, Gundersen Health System.

Gundersen was one of 23 hospitals or health systems in Wisconsin to achieve the Most Wired designation. Gundersen demonstrated strong IT outcomes in the following areas:

• Infrastructure
• Business and administrative management 
• Clinical quality and safety 
• Clinical integration

Results of the survey show that many hospitals and health systems have shifted their focus from acquisition of technology to integrating technology into strategies to improve population health, capitalize on data analytics, boost patient engagement and introduce new efficiencies, according to the H&HN.

“Most Wired is not about having technology in place but utilizing it to provide a great experience for our patients. Receiving this award is a testament to a wonderful collaboration between our Information Systems team and all of our clinical and business partners at Gundersen Health System. Working at an organization where everyone is inspired to bring their best, and respected for their contribution, creates powerful energy. We're honored to be recognized for what is our privilege to experience every day,” states Rose Ann Laureto, chief information officer, Gundersen Health System.

Those who participated in the survey represent nearly 2,200 hospitals, about 39 percent of all hospitals in the nation. To learn more about the survey, visit hhnmag.com/mostwired.