Healthcare IT News - October 2007 - (Page 8)

Healthcare IT News October 2007 ■ industry news www.HealthcareITNews.com readers predict center a boon for e-prescribing By Jack BeaudoIn, editorial director A whopping 70 percent of Healthcare IT News readers think a new research organization dedicated to creating “projects that lead to real results” will lead to an uptake in electronic prescribing. news Monitor The Center for Improving Medication Management, founded by SureScripts, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Humana, Inc., the In t e l C o r p o r a t i o n a n d t h e Me d i c a l Group Management Association, was launched in August at the National Governors Association State Alliance for eHealth. The center is the latest in a string of developments that appear to give a sense of momentum to e-prescribing. In February, major technology companies such as Microsoft, Cisco Systems and Dell contributed to a $100 million venture that seeks to provide free electronic prescribing to every physician in the United States. I n t h e He a l t h c a r e I T NewsMonitor poll, readers were asked, “Will the new Center for Improving Medication Management help increase the number of physician practices that adopt electronic prescribing?” Jim Chadwick of Amarillo, Texas, is pessimistic. He said, “Until either it is mandated by law or ceases to be [a] cost item to physicians – either in labor or computer equipment – physicians will not adopt the electronic methodology. Even though it is in the best interest of their patients, they see electronic prescribing, with its comparison of what other meds the patient is taking, as telling them how to practice medicine.” The focus is too narrow,” agrees Robert A. Vinti of HealthCare MonIToR see page 12 aHIc 2006 User-Centered Product Design Award HFES The Symbiq™ Infusion System isn’t just visionary. It’s double visionary. Continued from page 3 The dual-channel Symbiq Infusion System easily ﬁts your hospital’s IT vision. It works with Hospira MedNet® Patient Safety Systems™ software, allowing standardization across multiple Hospira device platforms. It communicates via your hospital system’s hardwired or wireless Ethernet network connections, enabling remote drug library downloads, remote infusion data gathering, electronic software upgrades and asset management. The system’s multiple processors and distributed modularity are designed to help reduce single-point failure risk. The large, intuitive touch screen enhances both patient safety and nursing workﬂow. The Symbiq system has been designed to support an interface to clinical information systems for 5-rights veriﬁcation. Progressive Symbiq technology and Hospira Client Services can successfully deliver your hospital’s long-term medication safety solution. Call Hospira at 1-877-946-7747 (1-877-9HOSPIRA) for the name of the local sales representative who can tell you more about the Symbiq Infusion System, the General Infusion system from Hospira Medication Management Systems. According to Kolodner, key elements of AHIC 2.0 should include a primary focus on the consumer’s benefit, relative simplicity to establish, durability and adaptability over time. The successor should have an independent focus on establishing an interoperable nationwide system of healthcare IT for the consumer’s benefit. “It won’t be technology for technology’s sake,” he said. AHIC 2.0 will address obstacles to the advancement of an interoperable healthcare IT network, including business obstacles and technical blockers, Kolodner said. “Designing this AHIC successor is not like anything that’s been done before,” he said. “There is a certain risk in anything that hasn’t been done before.” To minimize risk, he said ONC would be looking for: ■ a major federal role at the table; ■ a leader for the organization who will guard the overall goals. ■ a clearly established list of deliverables; ■ adequate funding for the successor; and ■ broad representation from all stakeholders. Kolodner revealed HHS’ model for transitioning AHIC, including plans for developing a planning committee, a board and how representation could be selected. “We don’t have a market on having all the best answers, that’s why we’re going through the grant process,” he said. “We hope bright and talented organizations will apply for the grant that can build on our illustrative model.” Kolodner said part of the model HHS envisions is for AHIC to derive some of its own revenue source through charging for access to the Nationwide Health Information Network. In addition, the standards process currently under way will not be jeopardized, as the Health Information Technology Standards Panel and the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology will become part of the planning process, Kolodner said. ■ More at HealthcareITnews.com e connect: aHIC 1007 www.hospira.com/symbiq/it e ● connect: HospIra 1007 P07-0779B/R1 ● http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.hospira.com/symbiq/it http://www.hospira.com/symbiq/it http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=7816 http://www.healthcareitnews.com/eConnect.cms?id=7889

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Healthcare IT News - October 2007 Contents Global Harmony Telegrowth New Rules Keeping Tabs What's Free? PHR of Its Own Intelligent Closing Practice Management Paper Tiger

Healthcare IT News - October 2007

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