SALT LAKE CITY -- Palmetto Health, the largest health care system in the Midlands of South Carolina and third largest non-governmental employer in the state, has selected the 3M 360 Encompass System to integrate and automate medical records coding, clinical documentation improvement (CDI), and performance monitoring across its four acute-care hospitals. The advanced technology from 3M Health Information Systems will help Palmetto Health increase coder productivity and achieve complete physician documentation, both critical components of the organization’s transition plan for ICD-10, the new national coding standard scheduled to launch in October 2014.

Palmetto Health will implement the 3M 360 Encompass System integrated with its Cerner electronic health record (EHR) system to provide a common view of patient information across all coding and CDI processes. With auto-suggested codes, real-time prompts for clinical documentation specificity, and concurrent access to quality performance data, the 3M system will help streamline processes, strengthen collaboration between staff members, and provide actionable data to improve patient care.

Palmetto Health joins more than 700 leading hospitals and facilities that have awarded contracts to 3M for the 3M 360 Encompass System. The integrated solution is the only automated coding and documentation improvement system built on 3M coding and grouping logic that leverages 3M natural language processing (NLP) technology and coding rules. 3M 360 Encompass incorporates complete ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS coding content. It natively codes in ICD-10 and enables coding in ICD-9 while viewing the ICD-10 equivalent.

Palmetto Health also uses 3M’s market-leading 3M Coding and Reimbursement System, 3M Health Record Management Software for clinical abstracting, and the 3M Ambulatory Revenue Management System, which monitors data accuracy, validates medical necessity, and audits for compliance throughout the entire revenue cycle.

About Palmetto Health

Palmetto Health, the largest health care system in the Midlands and third largest non-governmental employer in South Carolina, is composed of more than 10,000 team members, physicians and volunteers working together to fulfill Palmetto Health’s vision: to be remembered by each patient as providing the care and compassion we want for our families and ourselves. The system includes four acute-care hospitals—Palmetto Health Baptist, Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, Palmetto Health Heart Hospital and Palmetto Health Richland—as well as an expansive physician practice network, dozens of affiliated clinics and specialty care practices and a 501(c)(3) foundation. Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge, the region’s newest hospital located in northwest Columbia, is scheduled to open spring 2014. Recognized nationally as one of the best places to work and receive care, Palmetto Health also trains the next generation of physicians through its 23 residency and fellowship programs affiliated with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. For more information, visit PalmettoHealth.org.

About 3M Health Information Systems

Best known for its market-leading coding system and ICD-10 expertise, 3M Health Information Systems delivers innovative software and consulting services designed to raise the bar for clinical documentation improvement, computer-assisted coding, performance monitoring, and quality outcomes reporting. 3M’s robust healthcare data dictionary and terminology services support data interoperability and the expansion and accuracy of the electronic health record. With nearly 30 years of healthcare industry experience and the know-how of more than 100 credentialed 3M coding experts, 3M is the go-to choice for more than 5,000 hospitals worldwide that want to improve quality and financial performance. For more information, call 800-367-2447, visit www.3Mhis.com or follow on Twitter @3MHISNews.

360 Encompass and 3M are registered trademarks of 3M Company.