Hospital ushering in new computerized technology

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — Hospitals across the country are migrating to a new way of keeping records, charts and diagnostics and Erie Shores HealthCare is among the leaders in that charge.

The new system is called e-VOLVE, which is a totally computerized hospital information system. It will take the hospital from the traditional paper-based documentation to a computer-based documentation.

“We are the first hospital in the Erie-St. Clair LHIN to go live with e-VOLVE,” said Kristin Kennedy, Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Executive for ESHC.

There has been about 18 months of preparation and more than 250 people will be involved in helping ESHC go live on Sunday, September 27.

Erie Shores HealthCare staff gather around one of the new e-VOLVE computers in the operating room, as they learn the new technology, which goes live on Sunday, September 27. Submitted photo

“It may take a little longer for us to provide your care, or book appointments while we learn. Please be patient with us as we adjust,” said Arms Bumanlag, Director of Public Relations for ESHC. “Our staff has been working around the clock and this is a massive change for ESHC.”

Portable computer stations will replace typical things like patient charts, diagnostic results and other things that would traditionally be done on paper.

“It will provide enhanced care, builtaround best practices standards,” said Kennedy.

The system will be able to produce shift reports for doctors and nursing staff, as well as flagging certain symptoms the patient is experiencing during their stay. The entire hospital will be running with e-VOLVE as of Sunday.

“ Some things about how we provide care will look different and it may take a little longer as we adjust,” added Bumanlag. “We are doing this to improve care in our community.”