Healthcare IT News For VARs — March 17, 2014
Are you ready for ICD-10? A survey shows 27 percent of vendors will not make the Oct. 1 deadline. Also in the news, EMRs could be lacking in security capabilities, and Geisinger’s CEO discusses the smart use of data.
Will You Be Ready For ICD-10?
The deadline for healthcare providers to transition to ICD-10 is Oct. 1. A Healthworks Collective article reports that the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange's ICD-10 survey found only one-third of vendors are ready for the transition — and 27 percent will not make the deadline. The article also provides a list of questions from the American Medical Association (AMA) that can help you convince your customers you are ready and help put their mind at ease about the transition. Your customers need to be aware of system updates for the transition, how long the new system installation will take, testing following updates, and services or products you provide in support of ICD-10.
Does The Race To Provide EMRs Leave Security Behind?
A SearchSecurity.com article points out that elements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can make securing healthcare data more of a challenge. The article points out many electronic medical records (EMR) systems are based on legacy technologies and do not include some basic security capabilities. In addition, certification of systems was replaced by attestation, and a vendor doesn’t have to demonstrate compliance of security standards in an audit. The article also discusses the impact of accountable are organizations (ACOs) on security, which might not be ensuring data exchanges are secure.
Geisinger CEO Discusses Smart Use Of Data
A Healthcare IT News article features an interview with Glenn D. Steele Jr., MD, president and CEO of Geisinger Health System. Steele says integrating clinical and financial data is important for analytics for care coordination. He also explains the role of data in Geisinger’s ProvenCare program that combines “evidence-based standards and patient engagement to work in the service of fixed-price procedures,” and in the Center for Clinical Innovation that leverages analytics in support of population health.
Hospitals, Practices Switching EMRs
Also in Healthcare IT News, and article shares the conclusions of two reports— by KLAS Research and Black Book — that found from one-third to one-half of large hospitals are considering switching to new EMRs by 2016. KLAS points out, however, many of the new decisions of which system to switch to have already been made. The Black Book report adds that medical practices are also switching to new systems, with 23 percent stating they would have a new platform this year.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Healthcare IT Resource Center.