Tower Health announced that it has earned 2020 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired recognition achieving Digital Health Certification Level 7 for both the Acute and Ambulatory settings. The CHIME Digital Health Most Wired program conducts an annual survey to assess how effectively healthcare organizations apply core and advanced technologies into their clinical and business programs to improve health and care in their communities. Each participating organization is certified at a level ranging from 1-10, representing their achievements and allowing organizations to clearly benchmark against a defined worldwide industry standard.
A total of 30,091 organizations were represented in the 2020 Digital Health Most Wired program, which this year included four separate surveys: Domestic, Ambulatory, Long-term care and International. The surveys assessed the adoption, integration and impact of technologies in healthcare organizations at all stages of development, from early to industry leading.
“Digital technology has been a driver of innovation in healthcare for many years now, but never to the degree that we saw in 2020 with the pandemic,” said CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell. “The Digital Health Most Wired program underscores why healthcare organizations keep pushing themselves to be digital leaders and shows what amazing feats they can achieve. This certification recognizes Tower Health’s exemplary performance in 2020.”
“We are pleased to once again be recognized by CHIME with the Most Wired Recognition for the acute health settings and now our ambulatory locations,” said Michelle Trupp, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Tower Health. “We continue to enhance and expand the options our patients have to meet with their physician when and where they need it.”
As just one example of Tower Health’s leadership in technology, the system rapidly expanded virtual care options for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients can use virtual visits as an alternative to in-person appointments. These can include follow-up care, urgent care, or select appointments for new patients. With virtual care services available 24/7/365, they provide patients secure and convenient access to care – from anywhere – through their mobile device, tablet or computer.
Each participating organization received a customized benchmarking report, an overall score and scores for individual levels in eight segments: infrastructure; security; business/disaster recovery; administrative/supply chain; analytics/data management; interoperability/population health; patient engagement; and clinical quality/safety. Participants can use the scores to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. Participants also received certification based on their overall performance, with level 10 being the highest.
This is the third year that CHIME has conducted the survey and overseen the program. In each successive year, CHIME has expanded the survey to capture more types of organizations that serve patients across the continuum of care. CHIME also continues to promote the program internationally to provide a global overview of digital health advancements.
For more information about the CHIME Digital Health Most Wired program, please go here.
About Tower Health
Tower Health is a strong, regional, integrated healthcare provider/payer system that offers leading-edge, compassionate healthcare and wellness services to a population of 2.5 million people. With approximately 14,000 team members, Tower Health consists of Reading Hospital in West Reading; Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville; Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia; Jennersville Hospital in West Grove; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, a partnership of Tower Health and Drexel University in Philadelphia. It also includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing; Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading; home healthcare services provided by Tower Health at Home; and a network of 25 urgent care facilities across the Tower Health service area. Tower Health offers a connected network of 2,200 physicians, specialists, and providers across more than 230 convenient locations. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.