Case Study: Children’s National Health System achieves award-winning quality improvements and a 44% reduction in CT scans with Cerner

Children’s National honored with prestigious HIMSS Enterprise Davies Award

Children’s National Health System, a 313‑bed pediatric hospital in Washington, D.C., partnered with Cerner’s Bear Institute to tackle rising unnecessary imaging, documentation delays and safety variability in its pediatric care. That work — focused on improving clinical workflows, governance and technology — earned the organization the 2017 HIMSS Enterprise Davies Award for outstanding use of health IT to improve outcomes and value.

By embedding decision support into the EHR, clinicians cut CT use for mild head injuries by 44% (556 scans avoided), while real‑time “Quality Board” dashboards in the PICU sped time-to-consent by 49%, reduced prolonged urinary catheter use and raised medication reconciliation from 80% to 92%. An ambulatory EHR with voice recognition also trimmed transcription costs and accelerated physician notes, delivering measurable improvements in safety, cost and care coordination.

Children's National Health System

Brian Jacobs

Vice President, Chief Medical Information Officer and Chief Information Officer