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UNC Health Blue Ridge Awarded Most Wired HealthCare Organization Status

In 2016, UNC Health Blue Ridge (then known as Blue Ridge HealthCare) was recognized as a "HealthCare's Most Wired" winner by the American Hospital Association's Health Forum. This award acknowledged the organization's effective use of mobile apps and other technology to improve patient engagement and care efficiency.


Use of Mobile Apps by "Most Wired" Winners in 2016

The 2016 "Most Wired" survey highlighted a significant trend: hospitals were increasingly leveraging mobile technology to connect with patients and clinicians outside of traditional care settings.

  • Clinical Communication: 81% of Most Wired hospitals used mobile apps to immediately notify clinicians of sudden changes in a patient's condition, falls, or respiratory distress.
  • Patient Engagement: A key focus was using technology to build patient engagement with their lifestyle in mind, which included providing electronic access to their care team and health records.
  • Patient Portals: Many recognized organizations, including the VA system and University Health System, emphasized the expansion of their patient portals (often accessible via mobile) to offer features like viewing lab results, appointments, and physician notes.
  • Chronic Disease Management: More than 25% of these hospitals were using internet-enabled monitoring devices (which often connect to mobile apps) for chronic disease management of conditions like congestive heart failure and diabetes.

UNC Health Blue Ridge's inclusion reflected its commitment to integrating these digital tools to better serve the community in Morganton, NC, by enabling more seamless communication and data exchange for improved health outcomes.