Technology

St. Bernard has committed itself to keeping pace with advances in modern technology, allowing our medical staff to provide precise, effective, and timely health care services to our patients.

In recent years, the hospital has seen several additions and upgrades which translate into improved health services for the community. Modern laboratory facilities and a remodeled Emergency Department are among the facilities which have experienced upgrades in just the past ten years, and both are consistently re-evaluating and meeting current technological demands, putting first class patient care at the peak of our priorities.

St. Bernard’s Meditech system stores all images from the point of admission, throughout the course of the patient stay until the visit concludes at Patients Accounts. All caregivers can review records, including both handwritten documents and electronic charts, by simply logging into the hospital’s expansive online network. This system is particularly useful to clinicians, who can retrieve previous patient outcomes to conduct comparisons or prevent duplicate tests.

Technological enhancements in medical imaging and information sharing have benefited the entire hospital. A Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS), which allows for nearly real-time access to digital x-ray images via the hospital’s computer network. These files can be viewed at imaging stations throughout the hospital. Physicians can also view these secure files from anywhere offsite via the internet.

Bedside Medication Verification (BMV) technology allows care providers on all of our inpatient units to utilize barcode scanning capabilities to positively confirm patient identity and medication information prior to administering medications. This electronic Medication Administration Record allows immediate access to current laboratory results, vital signs, allergy information of the patient, and drug interaction checking. BMV contributes to safe medication administration capturing the ‘5-Rights’ of medication management: Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dosage, Right Route, and Right Time.

The PCS Electronic Documentation System reduces paper documentation by utilizing Point Of Care online charting to reduce transcription time and the potential for inaccuracies. PCS documentation, available throughout St. Bernard’s in-patient units, allows users the ability to view ‘real time’ recording of patient data for timely decision making and planning.

Since 2007, our Emergency doctors enter nearly 100% of their diagnostic orders and medications via Computerized Physician Order Entry, providing for efficient communication between these physicians and other hospital departments.

Vital information is a keystroke away at computer modules located within the patient room, and can be accessed through the hospital’s computer network - which itself maintains online charting within an Electronic Medical Record.

In the Obstetrics Department, a safe and secure environment is supported by HALO - a tracking technology for newborns in the birthing department.

St. Bernard’s clinical departments continue to undergo amazing technological upgrades as well. In Radiology, an ultra-modern Digital Fluoroscopic and Radiographic System makes this department among the most up to date Radiology offices in the Chicago area. New ventilators in Respiratory Care have the capability to ventilate both infants and adults, with both invasive and non-invasive ventilation.

Through these and other advances in medical technology, St. Bernard stands among Chicago’s most well-equipped community hospital facilities, providing state-of-the-art care and putting our patients on the road to a speedy recovery.