When Hurricane Michael hit Panama City, buildings were flattened instantly.
Winds reaching 155 miles per hour ripped through the small community, yet Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center (GCRMC) staff remained calm.
"We never lost connectivity," says clinical manager Rachel Miller. "We were evacuating hundreds of patients, phones were down, and the only outside communication we had was through Meditech. Luckily, that was all we needed."
Using evidence-based clinical documentation (EBCD), the Meditech EHR system allowed records to travel alongside patients to other facilities. That saved Rachel's team precious time.
"If we'd had to go to paper, it would have been so much slower, and that adds up fast," says Rachel, "I was amazed how it completely changed our process."
"We regularly have ER patients come in unconscious, so we can't ask if they're allergic to anything or if they've recently had surgery," says Rachel. "Because of EBCD, we can get that information quickly with just their name and date of birth as long as they have been in an HCA Healthcare facility."
HCA Healthcare nurses report saving 30 minutes of time each shift due to the implementation of EBCD, and that time means one thing:
"We spend less time on the computer and more time with our patients," says Rachel.
Rachel Miller
Clinical Manager,
Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center
Panama City, Florida