health information technology | nashvillepost.com

Is that glass half full or half empty?

Half of the 210 hospital chief information officers surveyed by PricewaterhouseCoopers expect they'll be able to meet the 2011 "meaningful use" criteria necessary to quality for federal reimbursement for electronic health record systems. The first-round standards are expected shortly, with requirements becoming more stringent in subsequent years.

There will be additional criteria that will have to be met to qualify for bonuses in 2013 and 2015. But 80% of survey respondents said they were concerned or very concerned that they won’t be able to meet the meaningful use requirements by 2015. Specifically, they’re worried about the requirements that will actually mean changing how care is delivered — such as using computerized evidence-based guidelines when ordering tests or procedures — says Bruce Henderson, leader of the electronic health records practice at PwC. “There’s lots of focus on the technology, but this is really about standardizing care processes at the highest level of quality with an eye towards the reduction of costs,” he tells the Health Blog. That means changing how doctors, nurses and other personnel work — and changing how anyone does his or her job is not easy.

Jun 30, 2010 1:31 PM

PureSafety adds a few more

Last week it was the manufacturing folks, this week Franklin-based software company PureSafety said it's added a group of health care industry clients. Among those now using the company's workforce health and safety software are Chesapeake Heath Department, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Huntsville Hospital, Providence Health & Services and SSM Health Care of Wisconsin, Inc. More background on PureSafety is available here and here.

Jun 29, 2010 11:40 AM

State health information exchange looking for vendors

The Health Information Partnership for Tennessee, or HIP TN, today released a request for proposals for the first stages of a statewide health information exchange. The state-created nonprofit organization is charged with planning and implementing a Tennessee-wide HIE to improve access to health information. The RFP released today solicits vendors who can provide the infrastructure platform for the exchange's core services. More information on the RFP and the procurement time line are available at this link.

Jun 25, 2010 12:32 PM

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InVivoLink launches mobile app

Local health care information technology company InVivoLink has launched a mobile version of its web-based software tool for scheduling and managing inventory for implant surgeries. The application — called “Remote Control” — works on the iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry devices to help hospitals, physicians and medical device manufacturers more easily coordinate total joint replacement implant procedures. The company’s web-based tool also tracks data before, during and after surgical procedures to help clinicians measure clinical, financial and operational outcomes. “We’re actually solving business workflow problems, we’re solving patient care problems, we’re helping the physicians be more productive and efficient,” said CEO Ryan Wells, “and that’s how you get the model to expand throughout the country.” Nashville-based InVivoLink currently has 15 employees and about 100 customers.

Jun 23, 2010 7:04 AM

Deloitte gets the pulse on health care reform sentiment

Deloitte’s Center for Health Solutions today released the results of a survey looking at consumer sentiment toward the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. View the full report at this link. Some findings from the adults surveyed:

36% think they will be “better off” as a result of reform; 43% think they will be “worse off”
76% think the cost of the bill will be higher than expected
56% think some hospitals and medical practices will close and 55% think they’ll have to wait longer to see their doctors
56% think incentives for electronic medical records will be “very effective” or “effective” at improving health care system performance.
69% think “the issue is not whether an organization is for-profit or not-for-profit - it's what they do that matters.”

Jun 10, 2010 2:47 PM

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HIPTN endorses state health IT plan

Nonprofit health information organization HIPTN Tuesday endorsed the state's plan to establish a health information exchange across Tennessee. “We share the view that while technology is a critical tool, the primary focus is not technology itself, but improving health,” Board Chair Robert S. Gordon, said in a letter to Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the Department of Health and Human Services. “We believe the Tennessee State HIE Strategic and Operational Plans are based on a sound understanding of how to achieve these goals in our state’s environment.” More from HIPTN is at this link.

May 26, 2010 8:10 AM

digiChart, PeriGen working on integrated OB-GYN system

Nashville-based electronic health record provider digiChart is teaming up with New Jersey's PeriGen. Through the partnership, the companies are integrating digiChart's women's health EHR with PeriGen's hospital clinical decision support system, PeriBirth.

"This relationship positions two strong and rapidly growing companies to carry out their shared mission of improving women’s healthcare through OB-GYN-specific technology,” said digiChart President & CEO, Dr. G. William Bates. “digiChart and PeriGen’s true end-to-end system will lead the way in linking physicians’ offices with hospitals’ labor and delivery units across the country.”

May 17, 2010 1:31 PM

Vandy implements hospital discharge software

Vanderbilt Hospital is working with Allscripts to implement the Chicago-based company's discharge planning software. The Care Management system should help Vanderbilt find facilities or home care agencies for patients leaving the Nashville hospital and transfer patient information electronically.

May 11, 2010 9:27 AM

Health care reform's trickle down effect

"Reform seems to be good for hospitals, and what's good for our customers we think is probably good for us." That was HealthStream CEO Bobby Frist Jr.'s response to the health care industry's question du jour — how will health care reform impact your business — on his company's first quarter earnings call this morning. The health care learning and research business grew revenue by 9 percent in Q1, and Frist said the company's top line could continue to grow as hospitals feel the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The idea is, if hospital patient volumes increase, they may add more staff, and that could mean more subscribers to HealthStream's products. The company's stock (Ticker: HSTM) was trading slightly higher Tuesday morning.

Apr 27, 2010 10:34 AM

Emdeon deal enhances fraud prevention

Nashvile's Emdeon is bolstering its health insurance fraud prevention tools by incorporating FICO Health Insurance Fraud Manager into its revenue and payment cycle transaction processing network, which serves 1,200 payers.

“By putting FICO’s advanced, predictive fraud analytics into the hands of payers who pay the nation’s health care claims, we are helping our customers address one of the largest, most debilitating sources of friction in the health care system and ultimately creating change that will lead to efficiency,” said George Lazenby, CEO of Emdeon in a statement.

Emdeon (Ticker: EM) entered the fraud and abuse market in 2009 with its acquisition of The Sentinel Group. It estimates health care fraud, waste and abuse costs between $200 million and $600 million annually.

Apr 14, 2010 10:57 AM

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