Healthcare IT News - October 2008 - (Page 17)

www.HealthcareITNews.com October 2008 n Healthcare IT news 17 o M M N T r y Workflow for top care THE DEMANDS AND challenges of healthcare delivery are central to the future development of healthcare applications and the biggest challenge for the healthcare provider is to increase productivity and to reduce costs without adversely affecting patient care quality. Ironically, the healthcare industry has adopted clinical information systems to improve diagnostic and therapeutic processes to maximize cost-savings without compromising the quality of care. The basic question remains: “Am I getting enough information about my patient?” is no longer appropriate from technology and workflow perspectives. The problem is no longer the data. The problem lies in filtering out the relevant patient health information – “smarter data” by smarter applications. Now we need to ask the next question to ourselves – are we achieving the workflow-optimization in our healthcare organizations? Currently in any healthcare organization, the ultimate outcome of treatment is reflected by the status of the patient. The majority of the healthcare providers is still focusing on the individual steps in the process (prevention-diagnosis- therapy-care) chain than optimizing the entire procedure chain. For example, most of the cancer detection in patients has occurred during the late stages of the disease resulting in higher medical costs while reducing the quality of life. Technological progress and the rising cost pressure on the healthcare system have led to a drastic change in the way healthcare is delivered. But care providers are still slow in moving patients, resources and critical healthcare information in providing an earlier diagnosis and medical intervention. This also requires an in-depth analysis of current practices, consensus of attainable goals and effective physician-patient involvement. It is also true that the quality of care not only depends on the physician or healer – the individual who possesses the talent to promote health but also depends on the collaboration within the organization and the medical knowledge that is available through the hospital’s clinical information system. Without the workflow optimization and without the right information available to the physician, the result can only be inefficient, costly, and sometimes the wrong care for the patient. Certainly, we can change this situation to provide a better outcome by implementing the healthcare information technology across the whole healthcare continuum with interoperable electronic records, electronic prescribing, clinical decision support, rules engines, workflow-based systems as well as a secure technical infrastructure. They are all essential units of the workflow optimization NeWsmaker iNtervieW What is MGMA’s greatest challenge for the year ahead? A permanent fix to the broken Medicare SGr payment formula, and the related lowered payments from private payers. We’d prefer to see broader reform in the healthcare payment system so that physicians are truly rewarded economically for preventing illness, providing safe, high quality care, practicing efficiently, etc., but we think that is not likely to happen in the short term. So we’re focused on fixing the SGr formula as “plan B.” We think that is a difficult, but achievable goal. William F. Jessee, Md President and CeO of the medical Group management association since 1999 “the majority of healthcare providers is still focusing on individual steps in the process.” and have the power to deliver patient information and best practices to clinicians at the point of care. Together with the progress in medicine, which provides for an earlier diagnosis and intervention, healthcare information technology for process optimization will be the prerequisite to further improve the quality of care while reducing its costs. n More at HealthcareITNews.com e Connect: denduluri 1008 SRINIvAS DENDUlURI Eclipsys ● Srinivas Denduluri, Ph. D, PMP, CPEHR is a director of clinical solutions at Eclipsys Corp., Malvern, Pa. He is also a visiting assistant research professor at Drexel University’s School of Medicine and Health Systems. He has been in the healthcare and clinical research field for the last 10 years and has developed immunization and cancer stating systems. He was an assistant editor for Nutrition Research, Immunology and Infectious Diseases. He was also a member of New York Academy of Sciences and American Association for the Advancement of Science. What was MGMA’s greatest achievement this year? Clearly, preventing a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare physician payment rates on July 1 has to rank at the top. teaches preventive We believe that our members’ incredmedicine, biometrics at ible grassroots response to our call for University of Colorado letters and e-mails to their House and Senate representatives was a major factor in that victory. But we’re also excited about our victory in achieving a change in the “deeming” provisions in Medicare Advantage plans to make it more difficult for these plans to avoid the necessity of disclosing contract terms to practices and negotiating network agreements with them. We also see our launch of our new social networking software – a first among healthcare associations – as a major innovation in our effort to create value for our members from their MGMA membership. Chairman of the board, exempla Healthcare, Denver What excites you most about the 2008 annual conference? The new format, with an opening session on Sunday afternoon, and windup at noon Saturday makes it easier for our JESSEE see page 18 COrreCtiONs Healthcare IT News is published by MedTech Publishing Company, LLC, which is solely responsible for its editorial content. Editors are expected to meet the highest professional standards for accuracy, objectivity, fairness and independence. Errors of fact are corrected as soon as the error is established and corrections are published in the medium in which the error appeared. Inquiries or disputes about the factual accuracy of the record should be directed to the editor. Which ticket would do better for HIT? McCain/Palin “They have a better grasp on infrastructure issues vs. Obama. Obama’s strategy is to tax, tax, tax, to fund healthcare for all.” – Kathryn Clark WellStar Health System News editOrial iNdePeNdeNCe Healthcare IT News is published in partnership with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). HIMSS members are eligible to receive Healthcare IT News and related publications – both in print and online – as a benefit of membership. With the exception of the HIMSS Insider, which is produced by the staff of HIMSS and appears within the pages of Healthcare IT News every month, HIMSS and its leadership exercise no control over the editorial content of the newspaper and related publications. “Free enterprise and free markets work. McCain/Palin will help to safegaurd this. Socialized Medicine would force a huge move backwards in the progress that a free market can deliver.” – T.J. VanderHeiden Healthcare Business of Thomson Reuters . mONitOr lobbyists rather than outcomes. The market needs outcomes based compensation, standards and legal reforms. The Democrats are deeply entrenched with the legal lobby and will not seek real reform.” – Bill Bailey ProHealth Care HealtHCare it NewsMONitOr Q 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Which ticket heralds the better choice for the advancement of healthcare IT? 367 reader responses Obama/Biden “Universal healthcare and a single payer system simplifies the requirements for healthcare IT and will promote more rapid adoption.” – Ronald Thomas Director of IT North Alabama Regional Hospital “They are interested in improving care and decreasing cost. McCain/unknown are about $ for the companies that sell IT. – Sharon Sweeney Fee Livingston HealthCare “Obama has made a clear commitment to healthcare IT with a pledge of $10 billion 56% 44% Obama/Biden McCain/Palin To take future surveys, subscribe to our enewsletter, HealthcareITNewsWeek, or visit us daily on the Web at HealthcareITNews.com. “They understand the incentive based approach that along with competition and education of the consumer will drive the market. The Democratic ticket understands politically oriented grants and subsidies that only promotes the governmental dependencies by institutions and providers. That feeds further corruption by fueling per year for five years to advance this agenda.” – Linda Christmann, MD Wilson Medical Center Wilson NC http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=10051 http://www.HealthcareITNews.com

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Healthcare IT News - October 2008 Contents Seattle's Slate Board 2.0 MGMA Newsmaker IT Battles Infection Beyond Adoption Excellence in Maine Carrot and Stick HP Layoffs Mobile Workstations Automating Offices

Healthcare IT News - October 2008

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