Columbia Basin Health Association is Awarded 2008 HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies Community Health Award of Excellence.
Honoring excellence in the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs), the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) announced the recipients of the 2008 Davies Awards in the Organizational, Ambulatory and Community Health Organization categories.
As a new award category in 2008, the HIMSS Davies Community Health Award recognizes care being provided through an open-door policy, predominantly to underserved populations. "A step beyond getting EHR systems up and running, the first Davies CHO award winners are all achieving powerful results: increased access to care, improved efficiencies/satisfaction, decreased costs, and better population health outcomes." said Linda Travis Macomber, RN, BSN, MBA, chair of the HIMSS Davies Community Health Organization Committee, and principal, Healthcare Tech Consulting, San Diego, Calif.
Columbia Basin Health Association was one of four Community Health Centers nationally to receive this prestigious award. Comprised of four clinics in central Washington, CBHA provides many services including medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, lab, maternity support, outreach and behavioral health. Many of CBHA’s patients are migrant/seasonal workers, uninsured and well below the federal poverty level. Implementing an EHR has supported CBHA’s philosophy of, “If you can measure it, you can manage it.”
“This wonderful recognition honors all of our CBHA employees and board members committed to providing quality healthcare to all of those in need of our services. I consider it a privilege to work with such a devoted staff and board in our efforts to fulfill our mission.” said Greg Brandenburg, CEO at Columbia Basin Health Association.
HIMSS is the healthcare industry's membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of healthcare information technology and management systems for the betterment of healthcare. Founded in 1961 with headquarters in Chicago, HIMSS represents more than 20,000 individual members and over 300 corporate members that collectively represent organizations employing millions of people. HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through its advocacy, educational and professional development initiatives designed to promote information and management systems' contributions to ensuring quality patient care. Since 1994, the HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies Awards of Excellence Program honors achievement in the implementation and use of health information technology, specifically electronic health records, for healthcare organizations, private practices, public health entities, and community health organizations.
The Davies Award is based on an evaluation framework that involves a two-step process, an introspective self-assessment and an on-location site visit. Modeled after the Baldrige Award, this process is a valuable tool for planning and feedback of an EHR implementation. Award recipients often leverage their award status for additional funding and career growth.