Electronic Healthcare Records moves to Phase 2

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Last week, the second stage guidelines were released by the government concerning the move to digital health records.  They can be read here.  According to Kaiser Health News, many of the objectives remain the same - increased usage, engaging patients in their care, and improving transferability between EHRs, but extended.  Companies also have until 2014 to move to Phase 2.  Included is the Summary of Care that must follow patients across referrals and be viewable by the patients online.  This document will be published March 7, then there will be 60 days of commenting.

At the 2012 Medicaid Manged Care Congress, the session "Utilize EHRs for Better Care Coordination" will examine how EHRs can benefit patients as well as look at how patient data can be kept safe with the new electronic format.  For more information on this session and the rest of the agenda, download the brochure here.  Also, as a reader of this blog, when you register to join us today and mention code XP1726BLOG, you'll receive a 25% discount off the standard rate!

For HCPs, there are numerous benefits to EHRs—what are some of the benefits for health plans?

Electronic Medical Records open doors for investment

In a recent article at The International Business Times, they look at how the road has been paved for full integration of electronic medical records. Not long ago, the Americans didn't know about the internet, and now today, it's fully integrated into our lives. The Times is paralleling the adoption of electronic medical records to this. With the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, $20 billion has been promised to medical professionals who step up and begin using these records. This article points out that while few have still doctors and hospitals have done so, it is the future. But there are few companies that offer services to do this for the offices.

They state: The list of companies offering services to capitalize on the wave of practitioners switching to electronic health records is small with only a limited number of companies having the infrastructure and products completed for marketing.

What do you think? Will we see this market emerge? What companies do you see on the forefront of medical records conversion?

Joe Biden Announces Grants for Electronic Medical Records

According to this article in ABC News Vice President Joe Biden will announce nearly $1.2 billion in government grants to help hospitals transitions to electronic medical records. This is a way for for the White House to finally demonstrate how the taxpayers dollars will be spent. Joe Biden mentioned "With electronic health records, we are making health care safer, we're making it more efficient, we're making you healthier and we're saving money along the way."

The Vice President also made the argument that paper records take up too much time and is prone for medical errors. Electronic medical health records will definitely ease communication between physicians and patients in the near future.

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Electronic health records promote health

According to Web MD, a study recently concluded that patients who are receiving electronic reminders will stay healthier and possibly lower health care costs. Electronic health records kept for 421 people with details such as physician visits, laboratory and pharmacy data in order to monitor the effects of cholesterol-lowering and blood-pressure-lowering drugs with the goal of reducing their risk for future heart attacks and strokes. All of the doctors included in the patients care were connected through the electronic health records, which proved that knowledge about the complete treatment of the patients could lead to lower medical costs and improved heatlh. Read the full article here.

To network with health plan and pharma professionals involved in medication and treatment compliance initiatives, join our LinkedIn group. You can also follow us on Twitter.

Walmart will offer low cost alternative to adopting electronic health records

The New York Times is reporting that WalMart will begin selling a low-cost alternative to enable small medical offices to start using electronic health records. They'll have Sams Club begin to work with Dell and eClinical Works, to provide hardware, software instillation, maintenance, and training.

Marcus Osborne, senior director for health care business development at Wal-Mart, had this to say about their new offer:
“We’re a high-volume, low-cost company. And I would argue that mentality is sorely lacking in the health care industry.”