Madison County Memorial Hospital Expands Relationship with HMS

HMS to help Winterset, Iowa, Critical Access Hospital implement electronic health record including CPOE

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Healthcare Management Systems, Inc.^® (HMS) announced today that it was selected by Madison County Memorial Hospital to supply a full system of integrated clinical and financial software for the hospital and clinics. For the critical access hospital in Winterset, Iowa, their new HMS digital hospital information system will include advanced clinical solutions to enable an electronic health record (EHR) for their patients.

“The greatest advantage we see today for critical access hospitals within the ARRA HITECH law”

Madison County Memorial Hospital had been working with some HMS financial and clinical solutions in an ASP environment when the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) emerged.

“We wanted to take full advantage of the funds offered by the stimulus package,” says Rebekah Mitchell, chief financial officer for Madison County Memorial Hospital. “Because of our previous experiences with HMS, we already knew they would be a strong health information technology partner, and now we’re moving to the next level with advanced clinical applications.”

“The greatest advantage we see today for critical access hospitals within the ARRA HITECH law,” says Tom Stephenson, president and chief executive officer of HMS, “is their ability to take all remaining undepreciated costs associated with the purchase of an EHR within the first year they qualify for reimbursement. This is in comparison to traditional methods of depreciating those same costs over multiple years.”

Madison County Memorial Hospital’s expanded HMS system will feature bedside electronic medication administration, computerized physician order entry (CPOE), high availability and integration between the clinics and hospital.

“We are excited about the EHR and harnessing electronic means to reduce paper flow and enhance patient safety initiatives,” concludes Mitchell.

“Madison County’s decision to move toward a complete EHR is a smart one,” said Stephenson. “We believe the sooner hospitals embrace advanced clinical technologies, such as CPOE, the more prepared they will be in this highly competitive industry – whether it be physician recruitment and retention or their ability to meet meaningful use standards.”

About HMS

Healthcare Management Systems, Inc. ^® (HMS) is a Nashville-based healthcare company that develops, sells and supports integrated clinical and financial hospital information systems and services. Founded in 1984, HMS counts among its customers almost 650 community hospitals; behavioral, rehabilitation and long-term acute care facilities; and multi-entity healthcare organizations nationwide. With the HMS system, caregivers are able to increase their efficiency in delivering quality care with an emphasis on improving patient safety. For more information, please visit www.hmstn.com or call 800.383.3317.

About Madison County Memorial Hospital

Madison County Memorial Hospital just celebrated its 60^th anniversary. It currently serves as a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital and operates two Rural Health Clinics providing medical services to county and surrounding communities. For more information regarding services, visit www.madisonhealth.com.