Is a wired hospital a better hospital?

The American Hospital Association's HealthForum has released a list of the 100 most-wired U.S. hospitals, and posted the claim that patients are happier there than in other facilities.

It's important to note that the HealthForum is an advocate of such automation, but the claim is making the rounds. Automation is becoming a selling point in hospital advertising.

For instance DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur, Ga., which is not on the list, has been advertising its automation scheme for years. (The only Atlanta-area hospital on the list is Piedmont Hospital.)

The AHA got its satisfaction results from Press Ganey & Associates, and its quality figures from the scientific division of Thomson Reuters.

While the list of the most-wired mainly features university hospitals, it also includes Kansas City's VA hospital, a regional hospital in South Carolina, and the Billings Clinic in Montana.

There are also lists of the most wireless hospitals and the most improved hospitals. The Montana clinic appears on both the wireless list and the Top 100.

The list does not, however, include several prominent hospitals which consider themselves leaders in computer automation, like the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, or New York Presbyterian.

The survey, which covers 2007, is sure to fuel the hype for hospital computing, with vendors quickly following-up with press releases from customers on the list.

Check the list yourself and let me know if you've checked into any of these fine facilities. How was it?