Louisville health information exchange expands scope. LouHIE

Congratulations. A great role model for the rest of the country. SV

Planners of a Louisville-area electronic network of health records hope to enroll 300,000 to 500,000 patients -- at least three times the number originally envisioned.

The ambitious undertaking, which could become a national model, is intended to reduce medical errors and costs -- for example, by heading off unnecessary tests or dangerous medications.

The network, an idea that grew out of research at the University of Louisville, initially aimed to include 100,000 patients.

courier-journal.com

SureScripts to Offer Higher Level of Certification called Gold RX

Let's hope most EHRs strive for Gold Status. SV

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – November 14, 2006 – SureScripts today announced a new certification status designed to recognize physician software and service providers that are truly advancing electronic prescribing and healthcare interoperability in the United States. SureScripts GoldRx™ certification status will be granted to electronic medical record (EMR) and e-prescribing solutions that not only have been tested and marketed as e-prescribing capable, but have a proven track record with pharmacy interoperability.

SureScripts

CCHIT to Expand Electronic Health Record Certification to Some Specialties

This is a great opportunity for Specialties to have their specific documentation and workflow needs addressed. SV

CHICAGO -- November 28, 2006 -- The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHITSM) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has authorized and funded the Commission to expand its certification scope of work for ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) products to begin addressing some medical specialties and specialized care settings.

"Expanding the use of certified electronic health records for different specialties within the health care community means more patients will have access to better quality care at better value," said Robert Kolodner, M.D., interim National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. "This expansion of the certification process will lead to significant improvements in the quality of individual's healthcare and the overall health of the population."

An environmental scan to gather this information will begin immediately with the goal of reporting results to the Commission at its January meeting. CCHIT will encourage the engagement of specialty societies as work begins. CCHIT will also communicate its progress through its web site, www.cchit.org, in CCHIT eNews and in a Town Call to be held on December 11 at 2:00 PM Eastern time. Details of the call will be available on the CCHIT web site.

CCHIT.ORG

Dr. Patricia Hale, MD, FACP, Chair of the NYACP HIT Committee will serve in a critical leadership position as Vice-Chair of the NYeC corporation.

Congratulations to a good friend and influential spokesperson for the Physician Community. SV

This organization will help coordinate eHealth initiatives.


United Hospital Fund

GE Healthcare Provides Infrastructure for Vermont Information Exchange, Vermont Health Information Organization (RHIO)


GE Healthcare

HHS promotes State Alliance for e-Health initiatives

Get involved. SV

Washington, D.C. HHS announces a new opportunity for various state-level decision makers (governors, legislators, attorney generals, etc.) to collaborate in their efforts to address challenges in state-level interoperable health information exchange (HIE). HHS anticipates that this collaboration will remove barriers to HIE and improve overall quality of health care.

The States play a critical role in the delivery of healthcare. There is a need for state-level interstate collaboration and consensus-building about the laws, policies and practices that govern potential approaches to interoperable HIE. This collaborative process will fuel creativity and partnerships and allow for the appropriate inputs of subject-matter experts. The State Alliance creates a vehicle through which states may come together to evaluate and possibly resolve:

State-level privacy and security issues
State-law practice of medicine barriers, and
State-level health information organization issues in governance, sustainable financial models, and the role of payors and integration of public health and benefit programs.

HHS

Medical Society of the State of New York sponsored Health Information Technology Seminars

Here is the current link for updated meetings as well as the link for non-MSSNY HIT Seminars. Visit the HIT Forum to post information about your events. SV

MSSNY HIT



HIT Forum

The Central Florida Regional Health Information Organization has elected its inaugural 15-member board of directors

It has repesentation by Health Care Providers and Health Care Payers. SV

The Central Florida Regional Health Information Organization has elected its inaugural 15-member board of directors as a step toward establishing an electronic medical network in Central Florida.

The officers are: Becky Cherney of the Florida Health Care Coalition, chairwoman; Rick Schooler of Orlando Regional Healthcare, vice chairman; Karen van Caulil of the Health Council of East Central Florida, secretary; and Dr. Ross Edmundson of Florida Hospital, treasurer.

Orlando Business Journal

FHCC

Perot Tapped for $1.1B in IT Management, Upgrades at 57 Tenet hospitals

Dallas-based Tenet said Tuesday in a regulatory filing that it will pay Perot $1.1 billion over the next 10 years to make the upgrade.

Dallas News

EMI 911 rCard, a portable "CCR"

Here's something that caught my eye. The price is reasonable, about $79.99 with annual renewals at $20.00. Volume discounts are available. SV

The EMI 911 rCard is an interactive, easy to use, electronic device that stores and displays essential Emergency Medical Information at the touch of a button. The full-color, high-resolution screen vividly displays medical charts, photos and text to instantly provide lifesaving data to doctors, nurses and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). The card is so small it can be carried in a pocket, purse or backpack!

EMISAVES

Fairview, HealthPartners and Allina medical groups are using MyChart online from EPIC to correspond online with patients

E-mails and phone calls paid at least in part by insurers are a fast-growing solution to a common ailment in health care: the unnecessary visit to the doctor's office.

Doctors have used phone calls for years to cut down on these visits — to tell patients with simple colds to stay home, counsel patients with chronic diseases or prescribe obvious treatments. But now clinic groups and insurers have begun to make this a more formal medical service. And insurers have agreed in the past year to pay at least for medical advice via e-mail, also known as e-care.

TwinCities.com

NextGen plans to use Instant Medical History (IMH) from Primetime Medical Software

This a a great decision. We currently use the application as supported by Phreesia.It is a great time saver and can improve physician /patient communication.SV

NextGen

Athenahealth adds an e-Prescribing function to athenaClinicals

athenahealth has partnered with SureScripts, the biggest e-prescribing network in the U.S., to offer clients an e-prescribing solution as part of athenaClinicals. athenaClinicals connects practices to the SureScripts Electronic Prescribing Network, which allows physicians to submit and review prescription data simply and securely in a 'true' electronic format - between the computers at the pharmacy and computers at the physician practice. This greatly reduces the need for phone calls, faxes and paper prescriptions from the prescribing process.


Athenahealth

Medication Management Systems Inc. permits pharmacists to assist patients on multiple medications and supplements


Some EHRs may want to incorporate some this programs features and/or create interfaces. SV

With pricey prescription drugs at the center of the health care affordability debate, is anyone paying attention to whether all those medicines are doing what they're supposed to do?

Using the company's software, a pharmacist is guided to ask patients about all the medications they are taking, including over-the-counter products, prescriptions they "borrow" from family or friends, herbal products and social drugs -- alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. The software also helps pharmacists get a complete picture of all the conditions the medications are meant to treat.

The Star Tribune

Zix Corporation Enhances Value of e-Prescribing Technology Platform by Aggregating Data
from RxHub, SureScripts and PerSe

Dispensed history not associated with insurance plans will be available. SV

Company Tests New e-Prescribing Services to Deliver Higher Quality and More Complete Information at the Point-of-Care

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 2006--Zix Corporation (ZixCorp(R)), (Nasdaq:ZIXI), the leader in hosted services for email encryption and e-prescribing, today announced that it was testing the delivery of data aggregated from disparate sources to enhance the value of its technology platform, as well as assessing the use of a new industry drug description nomenclature to improve the accuracy of drug identification. The types of information being aggregated include dispensed drug histories, eligibility and formulary information.

McKesson to Acquire Per-Se Technologies for $1.8 Billion

This a a major consolidation of two key HIT players.SV

SAN FRANCISCO & ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) and Per-Se Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSTI) announced today that the two companies have signed a definitive agreement under which McKesson will acquire Per-Se. Per-Se is a leading provider of financial and administrative healthcare solutions for hospitals, physicians and retail pharmacies. Under the terms of the agreement, McKesson will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Per-Se for $28.00 per share in cash. In total, including Per-Se’s outstanding debt, the transaction is valued at approximately $1.8 billion. By the third year, McKesson expects to realize pre-tax synergies of at least $50 million to $75 million.

McKesson