Paperless: New Hanover Regional Medical Center Moves Into The Future
New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s effort to save money and resources kicks into high gear this summer with a self-imposed deadline to “go paperless” by July 1.

According to Erin Balzotti, the hospital’s media relations coordinator, NHRMC, recently  has undertaken the effort to become more green in several areas, with the move away from paper medical records, memos and other internal communication just a part of the master plan.

“NHRMC will greatly reduce its environmental impact through these efforts to go paperless,” Balzotti said. “As much as possible, [the hospital, its outpatient facilities and Physician Group] will eliminate the use of paper.”

Nationwide, the use of electronic medical records is already reducing the paper needed to store patient records, and NHRMC is no different in this respect, but they are pushing into new territory with the elimination of hard copies of board meeting agendas and internal communication.

At a recent Board of Trustees meeting, nearly 500 pages of copies of the agenda, minutes and last-minute additions were distributed to board members, hospital staff and members of the news media.

“The decision was made to stop printing information packets for the Board of Trustees’ meetings because the information is already sent electronically,” said Balzotti.

Jonathan Barfield, Chairman of the New Hanover County Commissioners and member of the NHRMC Board of Trustees, is excited about the move.

“Most boards I serve on distribute their agendas and other information electronically,” he said. “From the TDA (TourismDevelopment Authority) to the Board of Health to the Transportation Advisory Council to the Public Transportation board we all receive electronic files and it’s up to us as to the printing. Most people don’t. They use their laptops or iPads to view these documents. It’s a great move for the hospital and I’m glad to see it’s happening there, too.”

When the July 1 deadline was announced at a recent Board of Trustees meeting the response was overwhelmingly positive from board members and hospital staff alike.

David Sims, chairman of the board of trustees, announced that hospital staff members whose computers were incompatible with the hospital’s email system would receive iPads preloaded with the email software, an expensive move, but one that should pay for itself with the savings in staff time and printing expenses relatively soon.

According to Balzotti, NHRMC expects the switch to electronic communication to increase staff response and productivity. Hospital officials also expect, over time, to save a substantial amount of money and provide a significant environmental benefit, citing the first four months of a similar program within the hospital as evidence.

“At the beginning of the year, the NHRMC Operating Room replaced disposable gowns and non-patient drapes with reusable gowns and drapes,” she said. “In the first four months of the program, the hospital avoided sending 47,500 pounds of disposable products to the landfill, which has saved more than $10,000.”

Electronic medical records will be used in all areas of the hospital, including outpatient facilities and the NHRMC Physician Group by summer 2012, although many departments are already paperless.

“In addition to the time and cost savings, NHRMC will greatly reduce its environment impact with efforts to go paperless,” Balzotti said. “But that’s not all we’re doing.”

The roof of the Pediatric Floor of the Betty H. Cameron Women’s & Children’s Hospital is a self-sustainable green space made from recycled materials. It was designed to absorb and use storm water, rather than send it into an already overwhelmed system, and will save an estimated 10 percent on heating and cooling costs.

Another initiative undertaken by NHRMC to reduce the amount of trash it disposes of is the Mission Ready program. Mission Ready saves unused medical and surgical supplies and makes them available to medical personnel going on medical mission trips to parts of the world where these supplied are difficult to come by.