CIO magazine designated Rhode Island's Lifespan health system one of its CIO-100 honorees, the only health system to be included on the list. The awards recognize organizations that successfully integrate different information technology systems and incorporate the systems into their business operations (Low, CIO, August 2002).
Lifespan was recognized for its LifeLinks clinical information system, which uses a Web-based browser to make patient and care provider information available throughout the health system. The system lets clinicians access patients' lab results, pharmacy records and radiology reports online, according to Carole Cotter, CIO at Lifespan. Health system administrators integrated more than 100 separate information systems as part of the conversion to the LifeLinks system, which took four years to complete (Providence Journal, 8/19).
Lifespan is also in the process of implementing other IT applications, including computer physician order entry, bar coding and an "almost completely" robotic laboratory system (Freyer, Providence Journal, 8/4).
Other organizations named to the CIO list include IBM, General Electric and UPS.