Bluewater Health (BWH) is celebrating the successful launch of its new hospital information system (HIS).
The new system -- which links to the Erie St. Clair region's shared HIS initiative -- aims to improve clinical processes and digital security following a cyberattack last fall.
It will reduce duplicate testing, and enhance overall patient experience, by streamlining workflows and facilitating better communication among clinicians.
BWH President and CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer said in a news release, "we are proud to reach this important milestone."
"The collaborative efforts of our clinical teams, along with our partners Oracle Health and the IT (Information Technology) and security teams at TransForm SSO have been instrumental in making this transition smooth and effective," Reaume-Zimmer said. "We are committed to ensuring that our staff have the tools they need to provide the highest quality of care to our patients."
TransForm SSO President and CEO Lyn Baluyot described the successful launch of e-VOLVE Phase 4 at Bluewater Health as "a pivotal achievement" for her company and its partners.
“This milestone will continue to move the goalpost of digitally sharing information across our regional hospitals and community providers, supporting the advancement of patient care in our region," Baluyot said. "I am incredibly proud of the collaboration, dedication and hard work that has made this transformation possible."
BWH Board Chair Louis Guimond said the new HIS represents a critical step in strengthening security and fostering stronger connections with regional healthcare providers.
Plans for the new system were announced at the beginning of 2024, after hackers stole the information of over 250,000 patients in an October 23, 2023 breach.
The attack impacted patient care at Bluewater Health and forced the cancellation of thousands of appointments.