The Boston Business Journal featured Forerun in their article when discussing how the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Emergency Department handled patient care during Boston Marathon Bombings. The BIDMC use of Forerun's FlexChart Physician and Nursing documentation solutions helped clinicians be more effective and efficient during this crisis.

Emergency Department Charting Software Leader Joins with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to Add Advanced Nursing Documentation to Forerun FlexChart

According to an April 2013 article in Health Leaders magazine, hospitals are giving increased attention to ED repeat users, or "frequent fliers". Loosely defined as those visiting an emergency department five or more instances per year, "frequent fliers" visit the ED at a far higher rate than most patients, and because they are often uninsured or minimally insured, significantly cost hospitals. Though physicians and nurses typically know these patients well, developing coordinated care for such patients has always been a challenge.

Patient Satisfaction Scores are Here to Stay

A recent study in Annals of Family Medicine shows that family physicians are adopting electronic medical records much faster than previously thought. Already 70% of family physicians have adopted EMRs, with this rate expected to reach 80% by the end of the year.

Every month, Forerun distributes a monthly newsletter to our subscribers bringing the latest in Emergency Department News. Below is April's issue earlier this month: you can sign up for our newsletter distribution list by clicking the button below.

2013 is shaping up to be a year of change for the EMRs. The transition from paper to electronic records has been accelerated with federal payment incentives for EMR implementation. As an unintended consequence, these incentives have created an artificial market for many immature EMR products with limited customization, causing physician frustration and decreased productivity. Though federal mandates and Meaningful Use Stage 2 have compelled EMR adoption, this loss of revenue after implementation is leading to rapid change in the adopted products.

Dr. Richard Wolfe, Physician adviser and board member of Forerun, Inc. and Chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, was interviewed this morning by CBS News on the status of patients being treated at the BIDMC in Boston after the Boston Marathon bombings that took place yesterday afternoon. 

Despite the requirements of the Electronic Health Records Mandate, there are still emergency departments throughout the country that use paper charts. Though the reasons for this persistent reliance on paper vary, with the mandate the transition to electronic medical records is now "when" rather than "if".

Forerun will be sponsoring and attending the following upcoming events: as exhibitors in the two regional ACEP Annual Meetings this year, we will be available for all those interested to discuss and demonstrate the benefits and features of the FlexChart ED electronic charting software to attendees.