HealthCare Information Technology

ONC Training Modules Designed Around the Stage II Meaningful Use

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:23:00 +0000

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has launched a suite of electronic health records interoperability training tools.

The five modules cover Interoperability Basics, Transitions of Care, Laboratory Interoperability with Providers, the View/Download/Transmit Criteria in Stage II of Meaningful Use, and Transmitting Information to Public Health Agencies.

Click Here to Visit ONC Site.

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Concussion Symptoms That Can Go Unrecognized

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:59:00 +0000

Concussions that are unrecognized or are mismanaged put athletes at considerable risk of potentially catastrophic sequelae from re-injury. Repetitive head trauma from participation in contact sports such as boxing, football, and ice hockey can lead to a permanent decrease in brain function, including:
Memory Loss, Early Alzheimer's Disease, Movement Disorders such as Parkinsonism, & Emotional Disturbances. The Most notable complication of concussions are the second impact syndrome. With this syndrome, an athlete who is recovering from an initial concussion sustains a subsequent concussive injury, resulting in diffuse brain swelling and severe, permanent neurological dysfunction or even death.

The most notable complication of concussion is second impact syndrome. In this syndrome, an athlete who is recovering from an initial concussion sustains a subsequent concussive injury, resulting in diffuse brain swelling and severe, permanent neurological dysfunction or death.

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Standard Neuro imaging studies are typically normal; therefore, concussion is a clinical diagnosis. The most common symptom is headache. Other signs and symptoms include:

Dizziness

Nausea

Vomiting

Balance problems

Fatigue

Sleep disturbance

Sensitivity to light and noise

Mood changes

Difficulty with concentration and memory

Each concussion presents in a unique manner, and it is well established that a concussion does not require a loss of consciousness. Furthermore, a brief loss of consciousness does not provide any information regarding concussion severity. What clinicians need to remember is that if an athlete sustains a blow to the body or head and post-concussive symptoms subsequently develop, by definition, that athlete has sustained a concussion.

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Report Validates Provider/Patient Interaction with Computers in the Exam

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:03:00 +0000

Having a Provider use a computer in the room during a patient visit does add a level of complexity to the actual visit itself. However, according to a new report from the American Medical Association, the actual patient/provider interaction and communication is not affected for the most part.

Fears of negative effects of using an Electronic Health Record while in the room with a patient have not materialized. This report notes. “Technical improvements in EHRs that focus required computer tasks on activities that meaningfully influence patient outcomes, or that streamline data input and reduce the time needed to complete common tasks in clinical work and decrease the potential for distraction, will help minimize the possibility for disruption.”

Based in large part on findings in 14 previously published studies of the introduction of EHRs into the exam room, an AMA committee developed the report hoping to extinguish the fears. The authors’ of the report found that physicians’ interacting with patients influences how complementary or distracting the EHR can be. Providers skilled in collecting data during patient visits, and recording it on paper charts, before there were EHRs; were better able to integrate use of the computer into the visit.

Also discovered in the study is that those providers who displayed discontent with the computer while in the room with the patient, could easily influence patients’ perceptions of using an EHR. Those patients who understood the importance of recording the data, in their patient record, for quality of care, and less medical mishaps; were more accepting to the use of computers being used during the visit/exam.

You can view the study here: Click Here

Five communication behaviors learned at Kaiser Permanente with the Interregional Clinical-Patient Communication Leaders that eased integration of a computer into the exam room:

1. Let the patient look on – move the computer screen so the patient can see it, invite the patient to view information, ask the patient to verify information as it is entered

2. Eye contact – greet the patient, maintain eye contact

3. Value the computer as a tool – acknowledge the computer, let the patient know how it improves care

4. Explain what you are doing – inform the patient about actions and decisions, tell the patient what you are doing, such as ordering lab tests

5. Log off and say you are doing so – tell the patient you are logging off to safeguard his or her clinical information

Ventres W, Kooienga S, Marlin R. EHRs in the exam room: tips on patient-centered care. Available at http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2006/0300/p45/ Accessed Feb 12, 2013.

Utilizing these five behaviors helped to establish a positive experience during and after the visit.
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Study on Youth Concussions Recovery Time vs. the Severity of the Symptoms

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Sources: Mayo Clinic, Washington Post, Kaiser Permanente, Science Daily, kidshealth.org, and Denver Post

SOURCE: The Journal of Pediatrics, news release, April 2013

More severe concussion symptoms take longer to recover from their head injury than patients with milder symptoms. The study finds that most children recover from sports-related concussions within a few days, but some continue to have symptoms for months after the injury has occurred. The reasons for this have been undetermined. Authors of this study to identify have looked into risk factors that might be associated with longer recovery times.

One Hundred and Eighty Two children, who were analyzed, were seen at a Sports Concussion Clinic within three weeks of their injury. The patients completed the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), which uses a 0-6 scale to assess the severity of Twenty Two symptoms; the higher the number, the more severe the symptoms. The researchers found that the total score on the PCSS was independently associated with the length of time that patients had concussion symptoms. The higher the score, the more likely the youth would have symptoms for longer than 28 days, according to the study published in April’s The Journal of Pediatrics. Identifying risk factors for prolonged recovery from concussion will enable providers to provide the best treatment for patients, said the researchers.

A list of symptoms included on the PCSS questionnaire included:

1. Headache

2. Vomiting

3. Problems with keeping balance

4. Sleeping more or less than usual

5. Sensitivity to light or noise

6. Fatigue

7. Numbness

8. Memory or concentration issues

9. Visual Acuity

Dr. William P. Meehan, III and colleagues from Boston Children’s Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center analyzed data.

"Parents, physicians and caregivers of athletes who suffer from a high-degree of symptoms after a sports-related concussion should start preparing for the possibility of a prolonged recovery," study author Dr. William Meehan said in a journal news release. ©The Journal of Pediatrics April 2013

In the previous studies, it was found that younger patients and those with memory loss had longer recovery times after suffering a concussion; results from this study do not suggest that age or amnesia are risk factors for prolonged recovery time. What were determined athletes will suffer prolonged recoveries after concussion; therefore, the analytical tools to deliver results, should be based on initial symptom scores. The researchers made this public out in a news release.

For more pain related help please subscribe here.

Also, Check out the methods for which this study was conducted.

Cumulative Effects of Concussions

100 Most Common Medicare Inpatient Stays Now are Publicly Available

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:29:00 +0000

Pricing by hospitals across the nation for treating the 100 most common Medicare inpatient stays now is publicly available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

CMS, which is trying to use its claims data to bring transparency to hospital pricing, also has announced a funding opportunity totaling $87 million to help states enhance their rate review programs and extend price transparency.
Data released on May 8, 2013, shows how vast prices can vary across the nation’s hospitals and local healthcare organizations. The average inpatient hospital charges for services that may be provided to treat heart failure range from $21,000 to $46,000 in Denver, and from $9,000 to $51,000 in Jackson, Miss. For example, average inpatient charges for services a hospital may provide in connection with a joint replacement (MS-DRG 470) range from a low of $5,300 at a hospital in Ada, Oklahoma, to a high of $223,000 at a hospital in Monterey Park, California.

Map Provided by CMS Even within the same geographic area, hospital charges for similar services can vary significantly.

Please refer to the following links for more information:

-CMS-released pricing data is available here
-With a fact sheet showing national variations in hospital charges here
-Grant Funding opportunities for states are here

Retailers and the Partnership of Clinics maybe on the UpSwing!

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:05:00 +0000

    With an increase approximation of 200+ clinics opening at retails units (WalMart, Walgreen's, etc.), this means by the year 2015, there will be an estimated total of more than 3,300 units across the US. The retailers are taking advantage of the ability to merge the care of the clinic, with the sale of the products referred or ordered by the clinician. This is driving convienence for the patient.
    MinuteClinic announced after the health system reform law was enacted in 2010 that it planned to double the number of clinics within five years in response. The company is the largest chain with 453 clinics, followed by Walgreens' Take Care, which operates 357 clinics. Take Care also announced expected growth after the enactment of health system reform last year. It netted only two new clinics since then and has made no predictions for 2011.
    The clinics are also exploiting the power of utilizing the Family Nurse Practitioner. Having the clinic available to the public, for random walk-in traffic, the retailers are also seeing the need for many patients not having a PCP; the patients are seen for acute visits, usually clinic visits are less than 15 minutes, are ways to promote well being, and replenish well needed revenue. The important venue of survival will be the retailers that bring quality care in a world reliant on HIT, the virtual practice, and not try to provide non-quality care at low prices.

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 01:01:00 +0000

What individuals in the HIT world have been waiting for, the long-awaited “meaningful use” rule appears to be on the way. A final rule has been sent for review to the Office of Management and Budget, a required step prior to publication.

Although OMB is under no strict deadline to review the rule, high-profile regulation typically does not remain in its queue for long. Thus the meaningful use rule could be published, or at least announced, this week.

The rule sets the criteria for the EHR incentive program called for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. ARRA established the outline of the program, intended to promote the adoption and meaningful use of EHR technology, and called on Health and Human Services to promulgate the regulations enacting it.

Also in OMB’s queue is a related rule on EHR implementation standards and criteria, which supports the meaningful use program.

Health and Human Services Awards $83.9 Million in Recovery Act Funds for HIT

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 06:02:00 +0000

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announces $83.9 Million Dollars for the networking and integration of Health Care Information Technology, which is a part of the $2 Billion Dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to expand these functions and services to low income and uninsured citizens.

45 Grants: Listed below are the funds and the organizations, city and state of where they are located.

Canadian Doctor Infuses Pro Athletes with HGH read more...

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:38:00 +0000

Dr Anthony Galea has taken healthcare to a new low....Now not only do these athletes cheat, but they have to go to Canada to do so. I have added a link to Wikipedia to read a little more about Dr Galea...Please just keep some of these athletes in Canada with you!

Just my opinion for what it is worth.

Integration Incentives within the Practices to move to Electronic Healthcare

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:53:00 +0000

In preparing for the new push for "meaningful use", final rules will be issued on health IT standards, implementation specifications, EHR certification technology, meaningful use, and incentive programs for eligible professionals and hospitals.

Overview:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide reimbursement incentives for eligible professionals and hospitals who are successful in becoming “meaningful users” of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology. The Medicare EHR incentive program will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) that are meaningful users of certified EHR technology. The Medicaid EHR incentive program will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals and hospitals for efforts to adopt, implement, or upgrade certified EHR technology or for meaningful use in the first year of their participation in the program and for demonstrating meaningful use during each of five subsequent years.

Monies actually allocated for these projects are as listed:
HITECH Funds Allocation

o $18 billion through the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement systems as incentives for hospitals and physicians who are “meaningful users” of EHR systems.
o $2 billion to the Office of the National Coordinator for infrastructure necessary to allow for, and promote, the electronic exchange and use of health information for each individual in the United States; updating the Department of Health & Human Services’ technologies to allow for the electronic flow of information; integrating health IT education into the training of healthcare professionals; and, promoting interoperable clinical data repositories.
o $1 billion to be made available for renovation and repair of health centers and for the acquisition of health IT systems.
o $550 million for – among other things – the purchase of equipment and services including, but not limited to, health IT within Indian Health Service facilities.
o $400 million for comparative effectiveness research on how use of electronic data impacts healthcare treatments and strategies.
o $300 million to support regional and sub-national efforts towards health information exchange.
o $40 million to be used by the Social Security Administration to use EHRs to submit disability claims.

What does this mean for the average physician?

Each physician will run into barriers such as bringing on more staff to implement these systems, workflow development will have to be standardized within the practice, the decision of choosing the right application that has the ability to integrate with other softwares securily, and the ability to report the data they record for measures of quality of care will have a new strain on these physician groups. Chris Thorman at Software Advice lays that out pretty well on his blog.

Partnering with a strong IT group will be crucial to the success of the implememntation for these physicians. The IT group will be able to pull the pieces together: IT devices, HL7 interfaces, using the software efficiently, and having the policies and clinical flows down to give the clinical staff the time to see their patients.

Waiting will not be an option anymore the age of technology has reached the average family physician. They are now going to started being penalized (dinged) after 2014 if they are not using some sort of CCHIT electronic medical by CMS. Their only other option will be to stop seeing Medicare patients. Another discussion for another day....

Layout of Recommendations:

First Stage

FDA Recall Amended: Please read this important note

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:33:00 +0000

I need to clarify my post from yesterday and please make this important amendment, Please take note, Thank You

Recall – Firm Press Release

Herr Foods Inc. Recalls ‘Herr’s Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored’ Kettle Style Potato Chips Because of Possible Health Risk

Phil Bernas
Sr. VP of Manufacturing
610-932-6455

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
March 8, 2010 – As a precautionary measure and concern for our consumer safety, Herr Foods Inc of Nottingham, PA is voluntarily recalling ‘Herr’s Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored’ Kettle Style Potato Chips. The product is being recalled because it contains HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein) manufactured, distributed and recalled by Basic Food Flavors, Inc., Las Vegas, NV. The ingredient from Basic Food Flavors has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Herr’s has a strong commitment to consumer safety and the highest quality standards. Salmonella has not been found in any Herr’s products and there are no known illnesses reported.

‘Herr’s Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored’ Kettle Style Potato Chips were distributed nationwide through retail stores, distributors, and internet sales. These products were sold as individual bags. No other ‘Herr’s” products are involved with this recall.
Only the following products are being recalled:

‘Herr’s Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored’ Kettle Style Potato Chips
With code dates FEB 27, 2010 up to an including May 15, 2010

Bag Net Weight 8.5 oz. UPC 072600011519
‘Herr’s Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored’ Kettle Style Potato Chips
With code dates FEB 27, 2010 up to an including June 12, 2010

Bag Net Weight 1.875 oz. UPC 072600014909
Consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them and should return them to the retailer where they were purchased for a full refund. Herr Foods and other retailers are removing recalled product from the retailers’ shelves. As a result, consumers can be assured that all other Herr’s products that remain on-shelf are safe and not subject to this recall. Consumers with questions may call 1-800-523-5030. Live assistance is available 9am- 5pm EST.

Herr’s will continue to monitor all related findings and act quickly to preserve the trust consumers place in our products.

FDA Recall on Numerous Products: HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:04:00 +0000

The Recall was issued due to possible salmonella contamination. Salmonella is one of the most common causes of bacterial food-borne illness in the United States. It can cause fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

These Products Have been listed as some of the possible food products contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria:
Bouillon products

Herbox chicken, beef & vegetable bouillon

Dressing and dressing mix products

Follow Your Heart Organic Creamy Ranch Dressing

Reser's Ranch House Dressing

Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Ranch Dressing & Dip

Flavoring base and seasoning products

Garden Harvest Special Blend Seasoning

Minor's Bacon Base

Publix Meatloaf Seasoning

Gravy mix products

McCormick Onion Gravy mix

Publix Mushroom & Au Jus gravy mixes

Sauce and marinade mix products

Durkee Spaghetti & Marinade Mix

French's Thick Spaghetti Sauce Mix

Weber Grill Creations Italian Herb Marinade Mix

The following is a list of snack and snack mix products that are included in the HVP recall.

CVS Honey Mustard Pretzel Bites

Great Nut Supply Honey Mustard Pretzels & Bar Mix

HK Anderson Honey Mustard Pretzel Bites

Tim's Cascade Hawaiian style snacks

Herr's Sea Salt Flavored Kettle Style Potato Chips

National Pretzel Company (various)

President's Choice Honey Mustard Onion Pretzel Bite snack

Pringles Restaurant Cravers Cheeseburger & Family Faves Taco Night

Quaker Baked Cheddar Snack Mix

Rouses Louisiana's Best Snack Mix

Safeway brand Honey Mustard Onion Nugget Pretzels

Spec's Wines & Fine Foods

Sunflower Markets Honey Mustard Nugget Snack Mix

Frozen foods

Casa Solana Shredded Mini Beef Taquitos

E-Z Eats! Beef Taquitos

El Pasado Shredded Beef Mini and Beef Taquitos & Grilled Chicken Quesadillas

Giant Eagle Steak Taquitos

Jose Ole Taquitos

Posada Corn & Shredded Beef Taquitos

Tornados Ranchero Beef & Cheese

Prepared salad products

Reser's Redskin Potato Salad

Safeway brand Redskin Potato Salad

Walmart brand Redskin Potato Salad

Ready-to-eat meal products

Follow Your Heart Ready-to-Eat Meals

Stuffing products

McCormick Corn Bread Stuffing

Today's Healthcare Discussion with the Republicans

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:24:00 +0000

Today's summit between Dems and Repubs over the Healthcare bill really in my opinion get us anywhere now (Today). They did however get to open up discussions on both sides to where we got to hear some clear ideals and ideas on where each side stood. I was glad to hear Eric Canter say that the majority of the American people do not want this because of costs, but was disappointed when Obama responded in a method of we will deal with that later, almost feeling he was shrugging it off. Us Americans do not need the cost of the bill when there are other ways of going about restructuring HealthCare. Let's start with changing some of the things we can easliy fix in small incremental bites. That way it can be done right. Goes with the old attage, "How do you eat an elephant?" Answer: One small bite at a time.

Explaination of PHP vs. EHR

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:15:00 +0000

Patient education is so important today especially when it comes to communicating with your physician. You need to almost sometimes be a mind reader or even a translator to determine what maybe wrong with you. Thank Goodness for electronic medical records.

Electronic Medical Records (or as some refer to as EHR Electronic Health Record) is important to know and important have your physician help you understand. In order for good health standards, certain documents, labs, prescriptions, images, and clinical data will be in your electronic chart. In the past everything used to be in a manila folder, parsed off by color coded separators. Now everything is stored safely and securely via hospital or practice database. Such vendors for EHRs are Allscripts, NextGen, eClinicalWorks, EPIC and GE Centricity (the big 5).

PHP or Patient Health Portal is an application source that allows the patient to initiate conversations, set up appointments, renew prescriptions, etc. directly with the practice staff or provider, without having to go in for a face to face visit. This system is usually encrypted from the patient side as well as the provider side, to ensure patient privacy security. The really nice thing about these applications is that they are accessible via web browser and usually only require a user id and password to work.

There are some questions you should be asking your provider/staff at the practice to ensure your safety and privacy; I will list below.

The average EHR implementation will run approximately $25,000-$40,000 per provider, so don't think this is an overnight process, and that it comes cheap. The average investment and implementation cost of a PHP is much less.

That can range from $10,000-25,000 for the complete set up. But keep in mind, in order to have a useful PHP, there must be an EHR on the other side.

Instructions

Things you’ll need:

• Checklist of symptoms

• secure email setup

• Provider using Health Information Technology

1. Step 1

Ask your Provider to share or review your chart with you to make sure all the information is correct and updated. This should be done on a yearly basis. Taking time for a 30 minute visit is better than the alternative if data is wrong and you receive the wrong medication because you didn't let the provider know of an medication allergy . "Be honest with your Doctor, it serves you better in the long run."

2. Step 2

Secure Database on location and off location back up

Make sure the software or EHR is CCHIT certified. CMS (Medicaid )puts out strict guidelines in order for these softwares to contain certain secure administrational features that include such things as integratable interfaces (HL7 code that allows other softwares to share information), ability to lock down notes and charts to none authorized personal, and a secure database location.

3. Step 3

Make sure when signing up for the PHP, that the system requires a multi sequence password, example: P@1ti3nt; letters, symbols and numerics. This will allow your password to be a harder password to crack. There are a few that contain these features; Medem's i-Health, Vecna Medical, and Meditab.

4. Step 4

Make sure you as a patient take personal responsibility for your health. Remember, the physician and staff are there to resolve issues not babysit what you eat, when you exercise and if you are taking your medications. Good patient care begins with the patient.

Tips & Warnings

• For more information use the reference links below to help answer questions in more detail.

• Please keep in mind that CCHIT certification changes every year so software certifications maybe outdated, but know that you can always check the CCHIT website for listings.

Resources

• CCHIT Resource

• Health IT Gov

• Meaningful Use

What heat are practices feelin’ for PQRI reporting for 2009?

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:03:00 +0000

It is coming down to the wire, and many practices are feeling the heat to work through a certified registry to complete their PQRI requirements built to receive their CMS dollars for 2009. Many practices have actually decided to skip their 2009 reporting and move right into 2010. This is really too bad because there was a great opportunity to be had in 2009, it only required 3 measures on two patients, per provider. Requirements are slowly moving now to the “meaningful use” requirements, and are going to be a little more defined in their reporting structures for 2010.

Practices/Providers have to understand that as we move towards the 2010 reporting requirements there are going to be extra eRx incentives to gain. You can read more about this on CMS website. What may end up happening is a flurry of groups to look at finding and solidifying a contract with a certified registry early in the year of 2010, so they can establish a mode of standardization, to get the most out of their reporting.

Blumenthal Updates Rules Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:54:00 +0000

This post was found on HDM's Blog and Dr. Blumenthal's post:

Looks Like Meaning Use will be coming to a health care organization near to you :)
Looks like Regional Extension Centers and State Health Exchanges will be established in early part of 2010.

Let's hope that the goal's of Provider efficiency and patient safety are considered in these factors.

HealthCare Jobs to Keep increasing till 2014

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:12:00 +0000

Health care jobs are plentiful and some cannot be filled fast enough in the health services field ,and 25% of all health care job growth from 2004 - 2014 will be in health services. Factors contributing to continued growth in this industry include the aging population, which will continue to require more services, and the increased use of innovative medical technology for intensive diagnosis and treatment. The effect of the increasing proportion of the elderly is already being felt. Also, the increase in HIT(health information technology) has added position in the IS/IT fields such as IT project managers, IT developers, and software trainers. The expected growth in these fields is expected to reach approximately 20%, in both the private practice sector as well as healthcare organizations. See the chart to see some of the potential jobs that are included in the health care service industry (above).

noreply@blogger.com (MSO) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:09:00 +0000

Linked in Poll on what Physicians benefit from EMRs...
http://polls.linkedin.com/p/53186/buxzp