VCU news

By Malorie Burkett

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center will be a stop tomorrow for an 18-wheel tractor trailer traveling the country to demonstrate how hospitals could use cutting-edge health care technology.

The Cerner and Nurture SmartSemi will be parked at the VCU Medical Center, Thursday, Sept. 11, on the 1100 block or north side of East Clay Street.

The 18-wheeler SmartSemi showcases interactive technology that is intended to create an improved patient experience and makes it easier for doctors and nurses to care for patients.

The SmartSemi will demonstrate the following technologies:

       CareAware — This feature connects medical devices such as vital signs monitors, ventilators and other physiological monitoring devices to the patient's Electronic Medical Record. Once connected to the EMR, these devices can automatically place information into the record, saving caregivers time and decreasing the chances of errors related to manual entry of the information.

       myStation — An innovative information and data station from which patients can access their personal health records, learn about the doctors and nurses providing their care, access the Internet, play movies and video games and even order their meals.

The VCU Health System, which launched a Cerner system in 2004, recently was recognized as a CIO 100 honoree by CIO magazine for using information technology to create business value. It also has been recognized in the past by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine as one of the nation's 100 Most Wired hospitals. The VCU Health System also is the only medical center in Central Virginia ranked among “America’s Best Hospitals.”