Dermatology EHR criteria in the works for 2010
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) is developing a dermatology-specific electronic health records certification program for 2010.CCHIT officials say dermatology-specific criteria can facilitate EHR care coordination between and among dermatologists and non-dermatologist physicians.
Pediatric Associates boosts interoperability with EHR
Pediatric Associates of Washington State is implementing an electronic health record for its 70 physicians. Officials say an EHR will streamline the practice’s clinical, financial and administrative workflows while creating an interoperable system where patient information can be shared seamlessly in the organization. Pediatric Associate’s seven facilities in Bellevue, Factoria, Pine Lake, Redmond, Sammamish, Totem Lake and Redmond Ridge, as well as an administrative office in the greater Puget Sound region, will use an EHR from Carrollton, Ga.-based Greenway Medical Technologies.
Connecticut home care agency Automates
VNA HealthCare, a home healthcare, hospice and independent living service in Connecticut, is moving to automation. VNA HealthCare will use Chicago-based Allscripts Homecare technology to connect providers in 60 communities in the reater Hartford and greater Waterbury areas. Providers will be able to use the ome care software system to perform scheduling, administrative and clinical tasks. VNA HealthCare also will implement Allscripts Referral Management, which is designed to allow home health, hospice and private duty agencies to track patient referrals in a single system and respond to them faster.
Physician query software provides ROI
Beth Israel Medical Center, part of Boston-based Continuum Health Partners, is using physician query software to improve clinical documentation. Hospital officials say the software, from New York-based Meta Health Technology, is already generating a return on investment. Meta’s Electronic Physician Query will close the loop between the coder or CDI (clinical documentation improvement) specialist and the physician and automate and expedite the physician query process.
