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HCA, Inc.
HCA refers to the Hospital Corporation of America. It is America’s leading provider of healthcare services and consists of locally managed facilities that comprise 173 hospitals, as well as 108 outpatient centers in across 20 states, England and Switzerland. In 1968, HCA was among one of America’s first hospital companies.
History
HCA was founded in 1968 by Dr. Thomas Frist Sr., Dr. Thomas Frist Jr. and Jack Massey. Dr. Frist, along with a group of physicians, started an initiative in 1960, to build Park View Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. By the mid 1960s, Dr. Frist and his colleagues were trying to raise capital required to expand and keep abreast of the latest technologies in medicine. HCA soon grew from strength to strength via the merging of various hospitals, application of the latest technologies in medicine, as well as a steady influx of capital needed. HCA’s ultimate aim was to provide for quality healthcare while also working to reduce costs. In the 1970s HCA grew even more and the 1980s was marked by a series of acquisitions ranging from General Care Corporation, General Health Services, Hospital Affiliates International and Health Care Corporation. By the end of 1981, HCA had over 349 hospitals operating under its wing, and more than 49000 beds. Today HCA boasts of a revenue turnaround of 25.56 billion USD in 2006, along with current assets worth approximately 23 billion USD (as per 2006 statistics). HCA has over 180000 people employed.
Services
HCA offers services in:
- Medication safety
- Perinatal services
- Emergency services
- Cardiovascular services
Medication Safety
HCA’s medication safety initiative started in 2000 when about 126 employees of HCA came forward to discuss the scope of potential errors in medication, along with the effectiveness of potential solutions. The outcome of the meeting was the emergence of two technologies that could improve medication safety standards
- eMAR
- ePOM
eMAR and Bar Coding
HCA realized that a standardized bar coding mechanism could effectively avoid errors and increase accuracy in billing. HCA started working with MEDITECH to develop a medical reconciliation program known as eMAR. The salient features of the way eMAR works is that any patient who is brought into HCA gets to wear an arm band with a barcode. This bar code contains all pertinent information related to a patient’s medical record, drug history, allergies and lab results. These bar codes also appear on small doses of medication in small ampoules. Before providing any form of medication, the bar code is run through with a thorough scan of the patient’s history as well as to check if the right person is receiving the right treatment. If any warnings are encountered, the nurses are alerted and they need to verify with the doctor for safety.
ePOM
ePOM stands for electronic provider order management. This is a process where physicians are required to submit medical orders for their patients by means of a software application in CPCS (clinical patient care system). This system automates prescribing treatments as well as clinical decision making. It also helps to improve the promptness in providing timely care.
Perinatal Safety Measures
HCA’s goal is to ensure optimal perinatal safety measures to ensure healthy childbirth, healthy mothers and babies. HCA’s perinatal initiative focuses on three areas:
- Jaundice management and prevention of kernicterus
- Maternal medication safety
- Fetal heart monitoring education
Emergency Services
HCA has come up with two prime ways to improve the level of emergency services provided:
- Improving monitoring and measurement facilities – These include the time of admission, time in bed, time contacted by a physician, decision made, and finally the time patient leave ER
- Enhancing the triage process – This initiative provides nurses all the required tools and training to methodically and empathetically triage patients. HCAs agreement with Triage First Education Services has made triage training a pre requisite for all ER nurses in HCA hospitals
Cardiovascular Services Improvement
HCA’s Cardiovascular Centers of Excellence (COE) evaluate HCA’s standards at cardiovascular services on a much more stringent level as compared to the standards being followed in most community hospitals. These standards have been finalized based on HCA’s Clinical Cardiovascular Management Network (CCMN)’s work over the last 8 years in developing programs and data analysis for the improvement of cardiovascular care.
Press Releases
HCA’s press releases section includes all the latest news and events that HCA has been a part of. It also includes various webcasts and presentations that aim to provide the latest information on medical technology and how they are being applied at HCA. In addition, the section also has information on Corporate governance, investor relations services etc.
Languages
English
Address
- Bldg 4 - 2W, 2555 Park Plaza
- Nashville TN 37203 US
Contact
- HCA Information Technology and
-
- +1 615 344 8880
Additional Information
Related Domains
External Links
- Stock: HCA
- Alexa: Hcahealthcare.com
