Plans for fiber optic medical network in Nebraska underway
The Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network (RNHN), a consortium of nine rural hospitals and related clinics in western Nebraska, plans to use a fiber optic medical network to connect its hospitals and affiliated clinics. RNHN announced a pending transaction with Zayo Group LLC and Adesta LLC to facilitate the deployment of the new $20 million fiber optic medical network. The proposed 750-mile fiber network spans 12 counties in western Nebraska, and will connect to national research networks such as National Lambda Rail and Internet 2 in Denver. The network has a planned completion date of fall 2011.
Tennessee clinic aims to improve care with EHR
The Jackson Clinic is rolling out an electronic health record system for its 120 physicians and 10 mid-level providers who serve patients throughout West Tennessee. Using a software solution from Allscripts, officials at The Jackson Clinic said they intend to further enhance the quality care they deliver by providing real-time information to physicians at the point of care and improving communications with patients.
Web portal coordinates care between doctors
A new Internet-based physician health portal will allow for instant sharing of medical records between doctors at The Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Head and Neck Cancer Center and ENT and Allergy Associates (ENTA), an allergy and audiology practice in the tri-state area. Under the partnership, patients of ENTA have direct access to Mount Sinai otolaryngologists, and can be seen at Mount Sinai within 24 hours of diagnosis at an ENTA facility, without needing a referral. Patient records are shared automatically and Mount Sinai doctors collaborate bi-directionally with ENTA doctors about the case.
California health system to link community physicians
Cottage Health System of Santa Barbara, Calif, plans to implement ambulatory and health information exchange (HIE) solutions to support its eHealth Partnership initiative. The eHealth Partnership will deploy Eclipsys’ PeakPractice electronic medical record/ practice management solution, along with Eclipsys HealthXchange, powered by Medicity, to link participating community physicians with Cottage’s Sunrise Enterprise inpatient technology. The arrangements will centralize the availability of secure access to the latest electronic patient data across facilities to improve the continuity of care, enhance practice efficiency and support caregivers in their decision making both in the physician office and in the hospital.
