Achieved Impressive 43% Project Productivity Increase with “Strategic Pause”
West Orange, NJ, October 13, 2022 – For the second time in less than a year, RWJBarnabas Health, the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, has received a perfect score from Epic on the latest phase of its new electronic health record (EHR) rollout. The system’s multiyear and multimillion dollar Epic Together EHR implementation project scored a "Perfect 10" during Epic's Gold Star review of its Wave 2 implementation earlier this year, and just recently scored another 10 for its Wave 3.
The Epic stars program grades hospitals and health systems on patient access, patient experience, clinical quality, safety, population health, physician and nursing productivity and value from data. Level 10 is the highest level of recognition a health system can achieve.
RWJBarnabas Health achieved the Gold Stars distinction faster than any other customer in Epic’s 43-year history, further illustrating the system’s leadership in health IT. In fact, in 2022 RWJBarnabas is one of only 17 health systems in the world with a Gold Star 10 ranking, placing the health system in the top 0.3% of all Epic users: higher than providers such as Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic and Cedars-Sinai.
"Even with the challenges of COVID-19 stretching our resources to the limit, the Epic Together team achieved a Gold Star 10 designation faster than any other health care group in the company's history," said Robert T. Adamson, PharmD, FASHP, Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer at RWJBarnabas Health and operational leader of the system’s Epic implementation. “I’m deeply proud of our team’s commitment and collaboration that made this moment possible.”
This newest Gold Star recognition follows a significant period of growth for RWJBarnabas Health’s Epic EHR project. Anticipating a 40% project productivity drop amid the upheaval of COVID-19, Dr. Adamson decided to change the system’s approach through an operational shift he labeled a “strategic pause.” This plan enabled the team to continue the Epic buildout while allowing necessary team members to work on the front lines, recover and return. Priorities shifted to other interest areas, staff worked outside of their typical roles and the project stayed alive through one of the most difficult periods the system has ever experienced. As a result of this strategic approach, project productivity increased by 43%.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering eight counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, three acute care children’s hospitals, Children’s Specialized Hospital with a network of outpatient pediatric rehabilitation centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers – with more than 38,000 employees and 9,000 physicians– and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers' education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org.
Contact: Carrie.Cristello@RWJBH.org