With the goal of providing easy access to health care, many providers, including St. Luke’s University Health Network, are using technology to create a better patient experience as well as to ensure better outcomes for patients.

As a result, technology is improving the efficiency of care delivery and creating a new dynamic in patient interactions, according to results of the 18th Annual Health Care’s Most Wired survey, recently released by the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Health Forum.

According to the survey, the “Most Wired” hospitals are using telehealth to fill gaps in care, provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week and expand access to medical specialists. And, Most Wired hospitals also use technology for a better patient experience.

This year’s results show that the top telehealth services offered in hospitals are consultations and office visits, stroke care and psychiatric examinations and psychotherapy.

“St. Luke’s goal of ‘Easy Access Now’ which features our telehealth app, the ability to make appointments online and other elements, have pushed us into the spotlight in terms of being recognized with a 2016 Most Wired award,” Chad Brisendine, St. Luke’s Chief Information Officer, said.

“Additionally, St. Luke’s implementation of the Epic EMR system in January has been hailed as the best way to ‘go live’ with electronic records management. The way we rolled out Epic among our six hospitals has become a generally accepted ‘best practice’ throughout the industry, and we are proud of our achievement,” Brisendine said.

In redefining the way that they provide care in their communities, Most Wired hospitals, including St. Luke’s University Health Network, are using technology to build patient engagement with the individual’s lifestyle in mind, which includes electronic access to their care team.

68 percent accept patient-generated data through the patient portal.

26 percent of Most Wired organizations offer E-visits through a mobile application.

61 percent use social media to provide support groups.

“Hospitals are breaking-out of their traditional four walls and providing care where and when patients need it,” said Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the AHA. “These Most Wired hospitals exemplify this transformation by harnessing technology, engaging patients and offering services remotely. And, removing policy and other barriers to telehealth will allow even faster adoption of these amazing technologies.”