Healthcare IT News For VARs — November 21, 2014
By Megan Williams, contributing writer
In the news, the American Medical Informatics Association workgroup has issued recommendations on how to improve EHR (electronic health records) systems, and studies suggest links EHR systems have with prescribing generic drugs and physician turnover.
AMIA Experts Question IOM Report And Suggest EHR Improvements
This years’ American Medical Informatics Association workgroup has issued recommendations on how to improve EHR systems, according to iHealthBeat. Member of the AMIA taskforce, Sarah Corley, (CMO of NextGen) released a statement saying that EHRs are too time-consuming in respect to data entry and feature cluttered displays that complicate information location. The taskforce issued a list of recommendations to vendors that includes input around interface, external devices, regulation documentation, and care team documentation.
Physicians Spend Less When Generic Drugs Used As EHR Default
A study from the University Of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia VA Medical Center found that physicians were more likely to prescribe generic drugs if the EHR system defaulted to them — meaning a small change in programming could be a simple way to encourage physicians to make more cost-conscious choices. The study involved four clinics and found that generic prescription rates increased by 5.4 percent overall when they were used as the default. Read more at EHR Intelligence.
EHR Alerts May Increase Physician Turnover According To AJMC Study
A study by the American Journal Of Managed Care examines the correlation between provider satisfaction, EHR-based alerting systems, and physician turnover. The study was conducted as a web-based survey of practices that used EHR-based alerting systems from a sample of primary care providers across the U.S., who were practicing at VA medical facilities. Of the 5,001 doctors invited, 2,590 participated. The study results decided that the use of EHR-based alerting may actually impact provider satisfaction and retention. Read more at AJMC.com.
Major Florida Hospital System Begins Sharing Data With Behavioral Health Leader
Memorial Healthcare System of southeast Florida has announced that it will be sharing electronic records with Henderson Behavioral Health. The partnership marks a groundbreaking step in care coordination, and was launched earlier this year. The behavioral health organization now receives “quick and confidential” emergency department referrals from Memorial Healthcare, ensuring care continuity, cost savings, and effective treatment of patients, according to BusinessWire.
Social Factors Recommended For EHR Inclusion By IOM
According to Oncology.com, the Institute Of Medicine (IOM) has recommended 12 social and behavioral determinants of health be included in the EHR. They include: educational attainment, financial resource strain, stress, depression, physical activity, social isolation, intimate partner violence, and neighborhood median household income. These factors would join existing factors including race/ethnicity, tobacco and alcohol use, and address. The report (which includes the recommendations) with be used by the Office Of The National Coordinator to determine what should be required for Meaningful Use attestation.
Healthcare IT Talking Points
HealthIT Outcomes’ Editor In Chief, Ken Congdon discusses highlights from the Medical Group Management Association’s annual conference. Primarily, the event focused on physicians and their desires to use IT specifically to improve their focus on patients and improving outcomes. The article includes insights from Jeff Chester, Senior VP and Chief Revenue Officer for Availity as well as a discussion around practices in getting past ICD-10 and MU.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Healthcare IT Resource Center.