Advocate South Suburban Hospital now is using an advanced electronic medical records (EMR) system in its emergency department that sees 46,000 visits, annually. The EMR will significantly improve the overall safety and quality of care of Advocate South Suburban Hospital patients.

An EMR is a paperless, computerized record of a patient’s medical history and care designed to increase efficiency and reduce errors. Patients’ medical records will be even more accessible than before and will be instantly updatable.

“The new electronic medical records system connect us better with our patients, which increases the care and safety we are able to provide,” said Ann Adlington, R.N., manager of the Advocate South Suburban Hospital emergency department. “The use of the EMR puts important information about our patients at our fingertips when and where we need it most.”

The new Cerner FirstNet® EMR alerts doctors and nurses to allergies, drug interactions and safe medication doses to ensure proper care for each patient. And, the system can help decrease the possibility of medical errors because handwritten orders, prescriptions, and instructions will now always be easily readable.

Advocate South Suburban Hospital is a 284-bed, acute care facility that serves Chicago's south suburbs. In addition to offering a wide array of hospital services, the not-for-profit facility provides free screenings and a variety of other outreach services throughout the community.

Advocate South Suburban Hospital is part of Advocate Health Care, one of the leading, integrated health care systems in the nation. The hospital has achieved HealthGrades’ 2011 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical ExcellenceTM, as well as Joint Commission Recognition as a “Top Performer”, based on its clinical quality performance.

More information about the hospital and its physicians can be found at www.advocatehealth.com/southsub or by calling 1-800-3-ADVOCATE (1-800-323-8622).