Recently, 45 new computers were distributed throughout St. Luke’s Hospital’s campus. These computers were made available through an $18,000 grant provided by the Polk County Community Foundation.

St. Luke’s Information Management Director David Pearson said the computers were very important, especially while St. Luke’s is operating new software and implementing significant procedural changes that will incorporate computer technology in several aspects of direct patient care and electronic information management, particularly Electronic Medical Records.

Several of the new computers were also used to set up a classroom to be used for training hospital employees and physicians in the coming new systems and procedures. The remaining computers were used in hospital administration and business offices in anticipation of increased computer support throughout most hospital systems. Pearson added that “these 45 computers are a significant portion of the hospital’s goal of distributing 100 new personal computers throughout our campus during Calendar Year 2011.”

In recent years, St. Luke’s Hospital has upgraded to fiber optic cable throughout their facilities, installed a new operating system, installed new wiring throughout their campus, incorporated 10 computers-on-wheels to assist with bedside patient care and record-keeping, initiated the installation of a wireless system in the main facility and trained almost 100 employees in basic computer operation and various Microsoft programs.

– article submitted by Jennifer Wilson