Posts Tagged ‘Health Information Exchange’

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The Role and Use Cases for State Agencies in HIE

Friday, August 13th, 2010

- By Chris Smith, MEDNET

There have been a lot of discussions and questions about the role and alignment of State Agencies in and with Health Information Exchange, and HIE initiatives.  Specifically, there have been some questions around the role of State Agencies and the specific use cases for HIEs with State Agencies.

Its our belief that State Agencies must play a part in the HIE, and provide valuable services and offerings to and for the HIE.  Some examples of use cases include the utilization of a State-based Immunization Registry system that could be integrated with the HIE to provide immunization history.  Another use case could be the integration of the HIE with the Public Health reporting infrastructure, and provide event reporting to Federal Agencies such as the CDC.  The State Medicaid Agency could provide administrative transaction support (claims, eligibility, etc), as well other services (such as medical history to improve quality of care to Medicaid patients, etc),  to the HIE and associated providers.

With the convergence of technologies, administrative and clinical data, and the ever growing adoption of EHR technology, State Agencies provide valuable services and data to and from the HIE, and interoperable State Agency connectivity should be included in the HIE’s strategic plan, roadmap and future.

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HIE Service Offerings and Meaningful Use

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

- By Chris Smith, MEDNET

As the Health Information Exchange  market evolves and expands, we continue to hear questions about what offering is right (or wrong) for a specific provider, system, and HIE, as well as what offerings the HIE should (or should not) offer to assist with Meaningful Use.

Many HIEs seem to be in different places in regards to their role on the path to Meaningful Use…should the HIE provide all the tools for providers to achieve Meaningful Use?  Should the HIE provide optional services to assist providers in becoming meaningful users?

What about the HIE providing EMRs, applications, services, etc.? Or is the HIE merely an ‘on-ramp’ for connectivity and reporting, with  Meaningful Use compliance belonging only to the provider?

We have seen many different models for HIE, including the HIE focusing on providing applications and services for complete Meaningful Use compliance, to the HIE providing some options for connectivity and a few applications or services to assist in Meaningful Use.

The latest information we have is that HIEs need to focus on providing three core functions in 2011 for providers: ePrescribing, Structured Lab Results and Sharing Patient Care Summaries.

While there can be more global goals and focus for the HIE in 2011, these three key services should be addressed by the HIEs to help drive not only HIE adoption and HIE sustainability, but also the path to Meaningful Use.

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The Role of PHRs in Health Information Exchange

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

- By John Fraser, CEO of MEDNET

In an ideal world, empowered patients should be able to manage their healthcare on-line, through a Personal Health Record. A Personal Health Record (PHR) is the newer term for systems that allow patients to manage their own health information on-line. The goal of PHRs is to allow patients to directly communicate with a multitude of providers and disparate clinical systems, creating a more efficient marketplace and driving value in healthcare.

Connecting PHRs via Health Information Exchanges (HIEs):

Some PHRs are connected to clinical (or EMR) systems run by a provider (called tethered), while other (un-tethered) PHRs are independent of any particular provider/clinical system.  For example, Google Health and Microsoft’s HealthVault are un-tethered systems and provide ways to connect to many different, existing provider clinical systems, while EMR vendors sell an electronic medical record system that includes a PHR option, which is directly tied, or tethered into only that specific EMR system.

Many people believe that Health Information Exchanges, or HIE, should be able to help bridge the connectivity/tethered PHR gap, and see HIEs as having the ability to simplify the connectivity between PHRs and EMRs and clinical systems.

Within an HIE, a patient is usually registered within the HIE’s Master Patient Index.  Connecting the patient’s PHR to their clinical information (within an HIE) involves connecting and linking the Master Patient Index record to the specific account the patient has setup within their PHR.  Utilizing the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) to connect the HIE nationally, the patient could then use a PHR to connect locally and nationally.  Connecting nationally with their PHR is important for patients applying for Federal programs and benefits, such as Medicare or Social Security Benefits.

By connecting HIEs and PHRs using these new standards like NHIN, we can simplify access to services by the patient, allow better more uniform access on-line, and speed up access to government services and benefits.

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Engaging HIE Stakeholders with Value Propositions

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

- By Dale Emerson, COO of Hielix

In our work with Health Information Exchanges across the country, we are often asked about overall HIE value propositions and the impact therein.  A strong value proposition can energize and engage key stakeholders into and for a project, such as an HIE.  The value proposition is the statement that describes why an organization would willingly participate in a venture such as a Health Information Exchange (HIE).  The value proposition is a clearly defined statement that is designed to demonstrate a proposed service offering that will solve a problem in such a way that the value to the participating organization is greater than not participating.

Why is the development of a strong value proposition important? An optimal value proposition will provide strong reasons why a potential healthcare stakeholder will want to be included in the HIE Project.  In order to achieve project objectives, the value proposition needs to be clear, concise and compelling.  By identifying stakeholder needs through  research and analysis, it is possible to develop clear and concise value propositions for each stakeholder that reflects their specific needs.  When the stakeholders’ return on investment (ROI) is measured over time, the tangible results that participants can reasonably expect from participating in the HIE can be quantified and reported.

The value proposition is important because it is a key component of any financial sustainability model.  Linking an organization’s value proposition to an achievable ROI is key to keeping the organization engaged throughout the creation and implementation of the HIE.  Developing an ROI for each participant and continually reporting on it during the HIE formation process will serve as a reminder of the value the HIE will provide to each stakeholder when fully functional.

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MEDNET, Partners Awarded Contract for Mississippi Statewide Health Information Exchange

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

Public Consulting Group (PCG), along with partners Hielix and MEDNET, today announced that the State of Mississippi has awarded the three-company partnership a contract to complete strategic, operational, and technical plans for the launch of Mississippi’s Statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE).

“These plans are critical in order to achieve a Statewide Health Information Exchange for Mississippi,” said Candice Whitfield, Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor, State of Mississippi. “We look forward to working with PCG and its partners to develop these plans that will allow us to improve healthcare in Mississippi through the use of technology.”

Jan Paterson, Esq., PMP, Senior Consultant at Public Consulting Group in charge of PCG’s Health Information Exchange practice, said, “PCG is excited to be working with Mississippi as it takes on the challenge of statewide health information exchange. We know that Mississippi has been working toward a statewide electronic health exchange since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and we are proud to be a part of the solution. We are looking forward to using our planning methods, tools and techniques to move the State toward this goal.”

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Michael Howe, former CEO MinuteClinic, elected as Chairman of MEDNET Board of Directors

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

March 30, 2010

Michael Howe, former CEO MinuteClinic, elected as Chairman of MEDNET Board of Directors

MEDNET (www.mednetworld.com) the leader in Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) connectivity and Health Information Exchange (HIE) today announced the election of Michael Howe, former CEO of MinuteClinic and Arby’s, Inc., as Chairman of its board of directors. Mr. Howe brings extensive health care and operational expertise to MEDNET from his MinuteClinic experience.

More information about Mr. Howe and MEDNET can be found on the MEDNET News website HERE

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Moving HIEs from Design to Successful Operation

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

- By Dale Emerson, COO of Hielix

In our work with Health Information Exchange, we have found there are generally two categories of stakeholders involved in HIE.  The first (and smallest group) have been actively involved for some period of time to facilitate the development of HIE in the state or region.  This first group knows about, and believes in, HIE.  The second group consists of all the other potential stakeholders across the state or region who have limited knowledge of HIE, lack trust about its impact, but control the critical components (patient health records) required for HIE.  It is this second group of stakeholders that needs to be engaged in the HIE process.

Typically, there are several stages of HIE development and the information that should be collected in each stage, including:

- The engagement of the second group of stakeholders described above.  These stakeholders tend to have limited knowledge about HIE, but have deep concerns about its impact on them.  The expected result in this stage is the readiness to begin building trust between divergent stakeholders.

- Actively engaging the second group of stakeholders in the broader expansion of statewide HIE.  The expected result in this stage is a technical requirements document that will be used to design the HIE infrastructure.

- Utilizing the analysis from stages one and two to architect a working model for statewide HIE.  The expected result in this stage is a completed architecture and supporting documents ready to allow vendor selection.

- Moving from the planning stage to the actual exchange of data.  The expected result in this stage is an operational HIE.

- A basic, operational HIE ready for growth.  The expected result in this stage is a sustainable HIE where annual revenues exceed annual expenses.

These stages are components of an evolutionary process and many changes will be required as you move forward with Health Information Exchange.  Please remember that a strong, yet flexible change process to accommodate an ever-changing environment will be necessary as well as you move forward with Health Information Exchange.

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HIE, Federal Connectivity and NHIN

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

- By John Fraser

The Social Security Administration (SSA) just funded 15 NHIN projects to dramatically speed up delivery of SSA benefits to injured workers.  This is an exciting new project for the Nationwide Health Information Network and the 15 contracted entities.  MEDNET is proud to be one of the project participants.

How will this SSA project work and what is the impact?  Providers will use a local health information exchange to connect through the NHIN to the SSA.  SSA spends over $500 million a year to enroll injured workers into SSA disability programs, a paper-intensive process that can delay an injured workers benefits for months.  Using the NHIN standards for electronic data exchange, SSA expects to reduce the injured workers wait for benefits from months to weeks, and potentially days.  This means a disabled person unable to work can receive financial support quickly.  In Minnesota there are over 100,000 injured workers relying on SSA disability benefits to help feed their families.

Compatibility with other health information exchanges is another benefit of adopting NHIN.  SSA is one of the first agencieCompatibility with other health information exchanges is another benefit of adopting NHIN. SSA is one of the first agencies to fund a number of NHIN connections, and other federal agencies including CDC, the VA and DoD are also implementing NHIN projects. This means NHIN connectivity can now be seen as a key connectivity standard for federal business, now and in the future. From SSA disability, to public health reporting, to eligibility determinations for Medicaid, many federal agencies have decided to transition their business processes to NHIN.

As health information exchanges (HIE) are built, and HIEs utilize the NHIN standards, they will reduce the risk of becoming obsolete or isolated, and increase the opportunities for federal connectivity and interoperability. NHIN helps to “future-proof” health information exchanges that adopt the underlying technologies of the NHIN.

Be sure to hear John Fraser speak at Session 246 on Thursday, March 4th on Identity Management in a Federated NHIN at the HIMSS Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Be sure to attend Education Session 246 on NHIN – HIMSS 2010 – Atlanta

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Make sure you attend Education Session 246 at HIMSS 2010 Atlanta to hear John Fraser, CEO of MEDNET, speak about NHIN and Federated Identity Management!

Thursday, March 4, 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Room B405

HIMSS10 » Education » Healthcare Identity Management and Role-Based Access in a Federated NHIN: http://bit.ly/6xfmeu

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MEDNET, Bostech Corporation Partner for Strategic NHIN Solutions for Healthcare

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

MEDNETWorld.com (MEDNET), a leader in Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) connectivity and Health Information Exchange (HIE) solutions and Bostech, the healthcare interoperability experts behind ChainBuilder Connect, today announced a managed service HIE solution for Nationwide Health Information Network, or NHIN, connectivity.

The joint product offering, called the Managed Service NHIN Gateway, is a comprehensive managed service that enables Health Information Exchange (HIE) building, clinical data interoperability, and NHIN connectivity. Previously, healthcare providers had limited choices for off-the-shelf HIE-NHIN connectivity and interoperability solutions. With the MEDNET – Bostech Managed Service NHIN Gateway, providers enjoy complete data interoperability, along with Health Information Exchange (HIE) and NHIN connectivity, as a managed service with premium service and support.

“Healthcare customers looking for off-the-shelf, ready to go, interoperable NHIN solutions can now simply pick up the phone and call us.” MEDNET’s CEO John Fraser said in announcing the strategic partnership. “HIEs can now focus on mission critical work, relying on our experience to manage their interoperability and connectivity needs,” Fraser continued.

“This important partnership will make it easy for healthcare providers to access an advanced, integrated HIE and NHIN solution,” said Brad Bostic, Bostech’s CEO. “This alliance enables our healthcare customers to quickly and efficiently form HIE communities that connect to the NHIN.”

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