McQuaid Named to Top 100 List
Posted: 12/7/09
“McQuaid was honored because of his IT team’s seamless implementation of new technology that strengthened Parkview’s access to patient information,” said Lewis.
“Bill’s team built our electronic medical records (EMR) in two year’s time without the use of consultants,” said Lewis. “He did this miraculous work with five dedicated Parkview employees.”
By contrast, when McQuaid was hired ten years ago, Parkview computers were running incompatible systems in different departments. McQuaid and other senior administrators could see the day when the hospital was paperless and doctors could log in without passwords, but with a finger touch on a small biometric pad.
Gone are the days when nurses cannot read doctor’s handwriting, because at Parkview, the doctors are entering their own orders on mobile computer stations, or at their offices.
“I couldn’t fail,” said McQuaid, who left his job at LL Bean to build a Parkview dream team of forward-thinking staff. McQuaid said he needed a handful of people who could troubleshoot with him for an innovative solution to tough medical records challenges. “People told me I was crazy to work at Parkview, but what more could I ask for?” McQuaid said in his endearingly laughing manner. “Parkview did not have a lot of money, so we had to be creative.”
The prestigious award honors the Top 100 IT and business executives in the world who have created innovative solutions to technological challenges. McQuaid was the driving force behind Parkview's movement to provide a fully integrated medical records system.
“What we accomplished will be the required standard for all hospitals in 2015,” said McQuaid. “We’re way ahead of the curve.”
Parkview’s leadership chose to eliminate passwords and allow staff to sign on one time with a fingerprint impression. That step made essential medical data, such as demographics, medications and diagnostics easily available.
“Bill epitomizes calm and steady leadership,” Lewis added. “He saved the hospital money, improved productivity and increased medical record security.” To determine what the nurses and doctors at Parkview needed, McQuaid often went on rounds with them as they treated patients. “At a small hospital, it’s easier to get everyone working toward the same solution,” he said.
Parkview is on track to qualify for federal funding set aside in the U.S. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for meaningful use of IT technology in the years 2011 – 2015, McQuaid said. Parkview is working on sharing data with other facilities, including neighboring physician practices, larger hospitals, and Maine’s Regional Information Exchange of EMRs, under construction.
Parkview earned international recognition after implementing bedside medication verification with bar-coded identifications for both the medication and patient. Representatives of many of the world's hospitals routinely visit Parkview for inspiration.
In a feature about Parkview in ComputerWorld, McQuaid, a Maine native who was born at Parkview, talked about his passions outside of work – mountain biking, camping, basketball and especially fishing with his wife, Kerry, a software engineer.
His career advice? “Your attitude will govern your success. It is important to take a can-do attitude and keep your head up.”
Honorees will be showcased March 8th at ComputerWorld's annual Premier 100 IT Leaders Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, according to ComputerWorld.