Monday, May 10, 2010

Health Informatics News

Health Informatics News

HIT Policy Committee Approves Certification Recommendations

Posted: 10 May 2010 10:52 AM PDT

Last week, the Health IT Policy Committee unanimously approved recommendations from its adoption and certification work group and its privacy and security work group on the proposed rule for EHR certification programs. In the first letter to David Blumenthal, M.D., National Coordinator for Health IT, the panel approved 12 recommendations from the certification/adoption work group , including the following: The surveillance process used to evaluate certified products to ensure they adhere to adopted standards should be in compliance with testing criteria and certification criteria, and should maintain the effectiveness of systems and implementations. ONC should have the authority to de-certify EHRs or EHR modules if a pattern of unsatisfactory surveillance results emerges or if patient-safety concerns emerge. For certification and testing for stages 2 and 3, differential testing and certification should be allowed if: an applicant has already passed a specific test in a prior stage, there has been no change in the criteria for that specific test in a subsequent stage, and there has been no change in the applicant’s software version. It should be required that certified EHR modules are sold with a label indicating that the module has not been tested for interoperability with other modules. The ONC-Authorized Certification Body (ACB) should be permitted to test at its own facility, remotely, and at the site of a healthcare organization. ONC, as well as each ONC-ACB, should maintain a Website that clearly identifies the names of vendors and the vendor version numbers that have received certification and which shows which Meaningful Use stage has been tested and certified. Future flexibility should be allowed to certify other HIT systems, such as PHRs. The committee also approved recommendations from its privacy work group related to the testing and certification of the modular components of EHR systems. The group advised that vendors be required to label the modules to identify the extent of the privacy and security components. “We are pleased with ONC’s structural approach to certification,” says the committee. “By separating the certification process from the testing process, and by utilizing existing international testing, accreditation, and certification standards, ONC is improving the objectivity and transparency of the certification and testing processes.”

IBM Launches Health Research Project

Posted: 10 May 2010 10:20 AM PDT

IBM  (Armonk, N.Y.) launched a multi-year research effort to connect and analyze data from disparate sources to enable individuals, governments, and businesses to better understand cause and effect relationships between agriculture, transportation, city planning, eating and exercise habits, socio-economic status, family life, and more in order to improve overall human health. The project will initially focus on childhood obesity. In the United States, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity account for 70 percent of all deaths and more than $1.5 trillion of healthcare spending annually, but factors far outside the traditional healthcare system influence these diseases. By predicting real world reactions that effect human health, the IBM Research project aims to provide fact-based recommendations of actions to take and ones to avoid. The project could, for example, pinpoint incentives governments and businesses might offer or what types of investments to prioritize when considering the location of a new grocery store in relation to a transportation hub for easier accessibility for people without cars, or provide better understanding around the impact of food labels on marketing practices, buying habits, and school lunch quality. IBM intends to partner with public policy and food experts, medical clinicians, economists, simulation experts, industry leaders, universities and others in this collaborative endeavor.

Intelimedix Launches Cost Containment Technology

Posted: 10 May 2010 08:40 AM PDT

Intelimedix , a Lakeland, Fla.-based company focused on multi-relational data mining and predictive healthcare analytics, launched Tru:Beacon, a solution designed to cut medical costs without lowering quality of care. Tru:Beacon utilizes proprietary deterministic algorithms to uncover inappropriate payments, known fraud schemes and treatment variations, as well as other cost-increasing occurrences. By employing predictive modeling, Tru:Beacon profiles and recognizes patterns that identify provider fraud, member misuse, and identity theft. Tru:Beacon is one offering in Intelimedix’s recently rebranded Tru:Solutions suite, powered by the company’s Relational Online Analytical Processing technology, advanced algorithms and its proprietary business intelligence and analytics platform. Intelimedix is a privately held company with investment from a consortium of Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensees known as BP Informatics, LLC.

Aunt Martha's Selects NextGen Platform

Posted: 10 May 2010 08:18 AM PDT

Horsham, Pa.-based NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc. , a provider of healthcare information and connectivity systems, announced that Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center will deploy NextGen Electronic Health Record (EHR), NextGen Practice Management, and electronic dental records in its 17 community health centers (CHC) across suburban Chicago and central and western Illinois. Aunt Martha’s worked with NextGen Healthcare’s Grant Resources Center to identify grant opportunities and help fund the purchase of the technologies. Clinical values are captured in NextGen EHR as discrete data elements, helping CHCs streamline and simplify grant and outcomes reporting. For Aunt Martha’s, this capability can also help the organization compile the necessary data for participation in both regional and national health information exchange (HIE) initiatives, and explore financial incentives for data sharing under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center, headquartered in Olympia Fields, Ill., is a full range provider of primary medical, dental, and behavioral health services to over 80,000 individual clients per year.

Jackson Clinic Selects Allscripts EHR

Posted: 07 May 2010 08:55 AM PDT

Chicago-based  Allscripts announced that The Jackson Clinic , located in Jackson, Tenn., has selected the Allscripts Electronic Health Record (EHR) for its 120 physicians and 10 mid-level providers who serve patients throughout West Tennessee. The Jackson Clinic will integrate the EHR with its Allscripts Vision Practice Management solution to provide full-spectrum automation of all clinical and financial activities. By upgrading to the Allscripts EHR, The Jackson Clinic expects to qualify for more than $4 million of federal stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Beginning next year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will pay physicians up to $44,000 for implementing a certified Electronic Health Record and utilizing it in a “meaningful” way. 

Study Shows Bar-Code Technology, eMAR Reduce Medication Errors

Posted: 07 May 2010 08:14 AM PDT

A new study funded by the Department of Health and Human Services’  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality shows using bar-code technology with an electronic medication administration record (eMAR) substantially reduces transcription and medication errors, in addition to reducing potential drug-related adverse events. Bar-code eMAR is a combination of technologies meant to ensure that the correct medication is administered in the correct dose at the correct time to the correct patient. Nurses are required to scan and match bar codes on a patient’s wristband and then on the medication to be administered. If it is not time for a patient’s dose, or the bar codes do not match, a warning is issued. Comparing 6,723 medication administrations before bar-code eMAR was introduced with 7,318 medication administrations after bar-code eMAR was introduced, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston documented a 41 percent reduction in non-timing administration errors and a 51 percent reduction in potential drug-related adverse events associated with this kind of error. Errors in timing of medication administration fell by 27 percent. Currently, eMAR technology is being considered as a 2013 criterion for meaningful use of health information technology under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

HCA Files Registration for IPO

Posted: 07 May 2010 07:48 AM PDT

HCA Inc. (Nashville) has filed a registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering of approximately $4 billion of shares of its common stock to be sold by HCA and certain existing shareholders. The company expects that approximately $2.5 billion will represent new shares sold by HCA. BofA Merrill Lynch, Citi and J.P. Morgan are serving as joint book-running managers of the offering and representatives of the underwriters. Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Securities are also acting as joint book-running managers of the offering. Through its 162 hospitals and 106 freestanding surgery centers across 20 states throughout the U.S. and in England, HCA is the largest non-governmental hospital operator in the nation. It is an integrated provider of healthcare and related services.

Merge Healthcare Acquires AMICAS

Posted: 06 May 2010 08:36 AM PDT

Merge Healthcare  (Milwaukee) successfully closed a merger agreement with Amicas, Inc. last week. The deal creates a medical imaging software and healthcare IT solutions provider with a combined customer base of approximately 1,500 hospitals and 2,200 outpatient sites in the U.S., a complementary product suite, and distribution agreements in over 35 countries. For outpatient imaging businesses, the newly combined company offers solutions for revenue cycle management, radiology information systems, referring physician connectivity solutions, radiology PACS and CAD solutions. For hospitals, Merge will offer interoperability and healthcare IT solutions, as well as comprehensive departmental solutions for cardiology, radiology, and perioperative departments. Additionally, Merge will deliver the entire solution set internationally, through established global channels. In 2009, Merge signed distribution contracts in 24 countries. Merge Healthcare specializes in the automation of healthcare data and diagnostics to improve electronic records of the patient experience and enhance product development for health IT, device, and pharmaceutical companies.

Carolinas, Catholic Health East Announce Leadership Changes

Posted: 06 May 2010 08:36 AM PDT

Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS, Charlotte, N.C.) has announced several executive team changes that will become effective on May 10, including the appointment of Brent Lambert, M.D., as vice president and CMIO. Previously, Lambert was vice president of medical informatics at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Va. Other appointments are as follows: Phyllis Wingate-Jones — division president of Carolinas Medical Center (CMC)-NorthEast in Concord Spencer Lilly — president of CMC-Mercy Martha Whitecotton — president of Levine Children’s Hospital Laura Thomas — president of CMC-Randolph, the CHS Behavioral Health center in Charlotte Curtis Copenhaver — interim president of CMC-University Carolinas HealthCare System includes 32 affiliated hospitals in North and South Carolina, and serves patients at more than 500 care locations, including physician practices, nursing homes, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies and other facilities. Its flagship facility is Carolinas Medical Center, an 874-bed hospital in Charlotte that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a research institute and numerous specialty units. Catholic Health East  (CHE), a multi-institutional  network spanning 11 states, has also announced several appointments and promotions to its leadership team. Judith Persichilli has been named president and CEO of the health system, succeeding Robert V. Stanek, who is retiring after seven years in the position and 18 years of service to Catholic Health East. Nora Triola, Ph.D., R.N., has been named the executive vice president and chief nursing officer. Triola currently serves as senior vice president and CNO for Holy Cross Hospital (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) and Mercy Hospital (Miami), both members of the Catholic Health East system. In her new role, Triola will be responsible for leading CHE’s nursing practice in anticipating and adapting to changes in the healthcare environment. Other appointments include the following: Peter DeAngelis — executive vice president and chief operating officer John Johnson — executive vice president of ministry operations Jenny Barnett — executive vice president of finance Clayton Fitzhugh — executive vice president of shared services Sharon Duffy, R.N. — vice president of nursing practice Debbie Coakley — vice president of workforce management John Capasso, president of CHE’s Continuing Care Management Services Network, will assume additional responsibilities for several regional health corporations, including Maxis Health System (Carbondale, Pa.), St. James Mercy Health System (Hornell, N.Y.), and the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System. Based in Newtown Square, Pa., Catholic Health East includes 34 acute care hospitals, four long-term acute care hospitals, 25 freestanding and hospital-based long-term care facilities, 14 assisted-living facilities, four continuing care retirement communities, eight behavioral health and rehabilitation facilities, 37 home health/hospice agencies, and numerous ambulatory and community-based health agencies.

MRO Updates Audit Tracker Online

Posted: 06 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT

MRO Corp., a provider of disclosure management applications and services for healthcare organizations, has announced the launch of software upgrades for Audit Tracker Online, MRO’s request management program, to improve functionality in effectively managing payer audits and denials from initial medical records request through appeals and payment resolution. The newest modifications to the customizable software include: Expanded ability to track additional types of audits such as ZPIC, MIC, CGI Federal/Medicaid and many others; Enhanced workflow to manage audit review process; Ability to send and track appeals shipments to various appeal entities; Updated user management screens and dashboard features; Improved compliance protection for email notifications; and Advanced data compatibility through American Hospital Association RACTrac application. With the software, healthcare facilities can manage patient information, workflow, correspondence, audit determinations and the various stages of the appeals processes. Based in King of Prussia, Pa., MRO provides health information disclosure management services, partnering with thousands of healthcare practitioners and administrative personnel across the country.

Survey: Privacy compliance has declined

Posted: 14 May 2006 01:56 AM PDT

Three years after federal rules governing the privacy of patients' medical records went into effect, compliance seems to have declined for 6 percent, according to an annual survey conducted by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Read more about this at here.

E-book: Making E-Health Work

Posted: 14 May 2006 01:53 AM PDT

E-Health has become an integral part of present-day healthcare delivery. With healthcare consumers, increasingly the focus of most health systems, the widespread implementation of health information and communications technologies offers cost-effective opportunities to meet their increasingly sophisticated healthcare needs.Bankix Systems Ltd has released its latest e-book. It is a 200-page in-depth analysis of the issues involved in "Making E-Health Work," the e-book's title. Read more about this e-book at here.

Consumer tools: UCompareHealthCare Offers Free Reports on Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Physicians

Posted: 11 Mar 2006 01:01 AM PST

"UCompareHealthCare has just unveiled its Web site, ucomparehealthcare.com, which features free reports on the nation's nursing homes, hospitals and physicians to help consumers make informed healthcare decisions. I checked the web site and found it very informative for health consumers to help them make informed decision about their choices of doctors, hospitals and others." Read more about this at UCompareHealthCare

Articles: Direct to Consumer: Women are a powerful, but untapped, audience

Posted: 03 Feb 2006 12:04 AM PST

"Women influence many family decisions—from choosing what's for dinner to selecting the medications their children take. In fact, nearly two-thirds of women are responsible for family healthcare decisions, according to a 2004 national survey conducted by Plan for Your Health. Many women also assume the care-giving role outside their nuclear families. Today's middle-aged woman may also look after her parents and in-laws too, often determining how long they can live on their own and how to best care for them. In addition, she often influences the important health decisions of grandchildren, co-workers, and friends." Read more at PharmExec.

Consumer tools: Really Personal PHRs

Posted: 27 Jan 2006 01:05 AM PST

"If we're committed to fostering the adoption of personal health records, we should take a page out of the consumer marketing textbooks — not the primers of health IT marketers. This was my conclusion after attending a recent meeting in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the Markle Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Agency for Healthcare Quality Research and Quality. " Read more about this at iHealthBeat .

Consumer trends: Manhattan Predicts Online Health Trends

Posted: 27 Jan 2006 12:06 AM PST

"US healthcare specialist Manhattan Research has published a summary of the major trends for health and pharmaceutical marketers to consider in 2006. The trends chart the increased use of the web and other new technologies as a health information and communication tool for both patients and physicians." Read more at Daily Research News Online.

News: Wall Street Journal Looks at Tools That Identify Low-Cost Care Options

Posted: 26 Jan 2006 01:07 AM PST

"The Wall Street Journal on Thursday looked at efforts by insurers to provide patients with tools - including a cell phone Web browsing service - to help them find low-cost treatment options. Lumenos, a unit of WellPoint, in February will launch the cell phone service, which lets patients type drug names into their cell phones' Web browsers and get lists of lower-cost alternatives. The program is designed so that patients can ask their physicians about cost-effective alternatives while they still are at their appointments." Read more at iHealthBeat.

Consumer tools: Consumer Health Complete Now Available from EBSCO Publishing

Posted: 25 Jan 2006 12:09 AM PST

"In continuing with the company's goal of providing the most comprehensive collection of online health and wellness resources, EBSCO Publishing has announced the release of Consumer Health Complete (CHC). This full text database is designed to support consumer and patients' information needs as well as foster an overall
understanding of health-related topics." Read more at Managing Information News.
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