The highest global recognition of information technology in hospitals and outpatient centers was awarded to Intermountain Health last week.

Because of its level of care for patients experiencing serious conditions such as chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also called COPD, and pain management, the organization received The Davies Award of Excellence from the Health Information Management Systems Society. The award recognizes health systems that improve clinical outcomes within the organization as well as enhancing health and wellness in the community.

HIMSS, a nonprofit group, grades health care groups on how they use electronic medical record data to improve patient outcomes.

“The prestigious HIMSS Davies Award of Excellence is the Superbowl of healthcare IT awards, and we couldn’t be more excited about this achievement,” said Dr. Farukh Usmani, medical director of digital technology services, in a news release. “I am incredibly proud of those who made the necessary plays to get the job done. They are a true testament to teamwork, leadership, collaboration and leveraging informatics and information technology. Together, as a top-tier team, we’ve earned the coveted ring.”

COPD is a group of lung conditions that block airflow, making it hard to breathe. More than 3 million people are diagnosed each year. It is also the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., according to HIMSS.

Intermountain Health conducted a study that found 18.2% of people with the disease were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. The organization developed a COPD playbook to help tackle this problem.

One in seven Americans, or more than 37 million people, live with kidney disease, according to the American Kidney Fund. The condition causes a gradual loss of kidney function, which can cause dangerous levels of fluids, wastes and electrolytes to build up in the body. Intermountain Health Kidney Services was formed by a collaborative effort between Intermountain Health and MDClone to improve care for these patients by using data analysis enhanced by artificial intelligence to identify those at risk for chronic kidney disease, provide treatment options and reduce hospitalizations.

Between 2017 and 2021, Intermountain Health performed over 1.5 million surgical procedures. Surgery is a major reason people are prescribed opioids, which can lead to some people developing a dependence on these drugs. In response to the problem, Intermountain Health focused on reducing opioid prescriptions and educating caregivers. The organization also came up with pain management techniques and used data-driven tools for sustained practice changes, reportedly leading to success in targeting different aspects of opioid reduction.

“We are committed to being a model health system by providing extraordinary care at an affordable cost while harnessing innovation and technology to help people live the healthiest lives possible,” said Craig Richardville, Intermountain Health chief information and digital officer, in the release. “Our investments in people, processes, technology and innovation are making a meaningful difference in the high quality of care provided at Intermountain.”

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