Category Archives: PHR: Personal Health Record

Kaiser’s Long and Winding Road

Posted on by
Reply

Health Data Management  Reviews Kaiser’s EHR Lessons
In August 1, 2009 issue of Health Data Management Magazine, Executive Editor Howard J. Anderson reports extensively on lessons learned as “Kaiser Permanente is entering the home stretch in what’s turned out to be a seven-year drive to implement comprehensive EHRs, personal health records and related systems at all of its hospitals and clinics.” Lessons focus on cost centers, training, deployment, and ongoing process.
http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/issues/2009_69/-38718-1.html
Learned of story from daily AHIP Solutions SmartBrief e-newsletter published July 28, 2009.  AHIP is America’s Health Insurance Plans association.

‘Meaningful Use’ Recommendations Approved by ONC Health IT Policy Committee

Posted on by
Reply

Health IT Policy Committee Approves ‘Meaningful Use’ Recommendations
Healthcare IT News reported on July 16, 2009 that the “ONC policy committee accepted its workgroup’s complex matrix of qualifications that will define “meaningful use” of health IT, a pivitol aspect to being a candidate for reimbursement bonuses and avoiding penalties under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).” ONC will finalize recommendations to Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which will have final say on rules that will be published by end of year and subject to public comment.

As reported by Joseph Goedert in HealthData Management on July 16, 2009 in “Meaningful Use Definition Gets Initial OK,” the committee recommends that the ”2011 criteria would be considered Adoption Year 1 criteria” enabling  applicants in later years to roll in additional requirements over three years.  Committee also recommended Personal Health Records should have real-time access to data by 2013, two years sooner than originally proposed. This article details the revisions from initial recommendations.

iHealthBeat‘s summary of these articles

Direct from
ONC’s HIT Policy Committee’s Meeting site: July 16, 2009        
 Agenda (pdf)

  • Meaningful Use Workgroup Recommendations (ppt)      
                   Meaningful Use Matrix (pdf)
                   2011 Draft Measures (pdf)
  • Clinical Operations Workgroup (ppt)

    • Key EHR and Health IT Documents/Reports

    Posted on by
    Reply

    Action and Implementation Manual (AIM) from ONC’s HISPC
    How-to guide for state actions and multi-state cooperation for health care privacy and security issues, released in June 2009 by Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC). See these two links to access related stories and AIM report.
    AIM: http://www.e-healthcaremarketing.com/archives/259
    Articles: http://www.e-healthcaremarketing.com/archives/222
    Provider Tool Kit: http://www.secure4health.org

              Background to Complicated Game of HISPC Privacy and Security Collaboratives:
              Written by Journal of AHIMA staff writer Chris Dimick, for May 2009 issue, article describes three years of work that culminated in handoff of Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC). 

    Connecting for Health Common Framework
    from Markel Foundation
    “The Connecting for Health Common Framework: Resources for Implementing Private and Secure Health Information Exchange is a set of free resources for individuals and organizations interested and ready to create private and secure health information exchange. The approach is such that information exchange can take place among existing and future health care networks over the Internet if all participants adhere to a small set of shared rules.” Produced by public-private collaborative of over 100 organizations led by the Markle Foundation, Connecting for Health is led and managed by Markle staff, and funded by Markle and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
    Common Framework Pages:
    Connecting Professionals: Private and Secure Information Exchange
    Connecting Consumers: Network Personal Health Information
    Connecting All Health Decision Makers: Population Data Analysis and Action

    NGA /U. of Massachusetts Medical School Report on
    Public Governance Models for a Sustainable Health Information Exchange Industry
    John Thomasian, director of the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, the organizing body for the State Alliance for e-Health said on February 24, 2009 “This report can serve as a valuable starting point for states as they consider governance strategies for building, sustaining, and protecting a system to support electronic health record.”

    “The report details three conceptual models of public governance that could lead to the practice of sustainable HIE and delves into specific rationale and description, legal structure and financing and accountability considerations for each model.”
    Press Release: “States Play Critical Role in Advancing Health Information Technology” February 24, 2009
    Report to the State Alliance for E-Health (pdf)       Appendices (pdf)
    Slides for February 24, 2009 State Alliance Meeting (pdf)
    Conference Webcast

    An Information Infrastructure for New Jersey Healthcare:
    A Vision for 21st Century Health Care System (pdf)
    Section V, Chapter 16 from the 2008 Final Report of  New Jersey
    Commission on Rationalizing Health Care Resources
    “This chapter briefly explores the reasons for the lack of adequate information systems in health care, sketches the vision of a 21st Century health-care information system, examines how much of that vision  has been achieved by now in New Jersey or is actively being pursued, and finally offers some recommendations to move New Jersey health care towrd an information platform that adequately serves the state’s people.”
    Final Subcommittee Report with List of its Members (pdf)

    ONC Prepares PHR Model

    Posted on by
    Reply

    HDM Reports on Federal Preparation
    Joseph Goedert of HealthData Management reported on May 22, 2009 “The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology is developing a model, or template, to enable personal health records vendors to better inform consumers about privacy, security and information management policies. ” Notice was published in the Federal Register.

    Federal Register Excerpt
    Proposed Project: Facts for Consumers about Health IT Service
    Providers–OMB No. 0990-NEW–OS/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
    Abstract: A new health information technology, the personal health
    record (PHR), seeks to provide consumers with the capability to
    directly manage their own health information. Although PHRs can exist
    in different formats or media (i.e., paper or electronic), the term
    usually refers to an online record containing an individual’s personal
    health information. PHRs typically include information such as health
    history, vaccinations, allergies, test results, and prescription
    information. Given the newness of the electronic PHR concept, the
    different ways to establish PHRs, and the sensitivity of personal
    health information, ONC is taking steps to establish that useful facts
    about PHRs and PHR privacy policy information be made available to
    consumers so they can make informed decisions about selecting and using PHRs. Toward this end, ONC has a project to develop an online model for PHR providers. The model will be developed to:
        [dec221] Allow presentation of important PHR facts and policies to
    consumers,
        [dec221] Allow consumers to understand and consistently compare PHR service provider policies with others, and
        [dec221] Focus on the key information that may influence decisions and choices of PHR service provider.
        The project includes iterative rounds of in-depth consumer testing during April-October 2009 to assess and analyze consumer understanding and input about the model. The model will be iteratively revised to design a final template that will allow PHR vendors to convey useful and understandable facts to consumers about their privacy, security, and information management policies. Testing will be conducted in six locations that cover the four geographic census regions and will include 90-minute, one-on-one, cognitive usability interviews with six to seven participants at each of six sites, for a total not to exceed 42 interviews. In addition, each participant will have been recruited through a 15-minute screening interview. The participants will be recruited according to U.S.census statistics for race/ethnicity, age, marital status, gender, and income. Also, the sample will include participants both familiar and unfamiliar with PHRs and participants who manage chronic health issues or a disease for themselves or others.
    http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-12023.htm
    Citation:
    [Federal Register: May 22, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 98)]
    [Notices]              
    [Page 24012-24013]
    From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
    [DOCID:fr22my09-58]

    Patient Centered Computing and eHealth

    Posted on by
    Reply

    Transforming Healthcare Quality
    A CME Course from Harvard for     nurses, physicians, public health, Information Technology
    May 1-3, 2009

    Boston, Massachusetts
    Offered by Center for Information Technology Leadership
    and Partners HealthCare System

    http://partnerscird.blogspot.com/2009/04/please-consider-joining-us-for-harvard.html
    “This practical course presents the work of national experts in patient‑centered computing and eHealth using a format that will enable acquisition of knowledge and skills. Through presentations, panel discussions and workshops, participants will interact with these experts about the opportunities and challenges that arise from the implementation and use of patientcentered computing    .”
    Course Director: Blackford Middleton,MD, MPH, MSc
    Course Co‑Directors: Patricia C. Dykes, DNSc, MA, RN and Douglas Johnston     
    Patient-Physician Relationships: Emails, PHRs, and Communication
    Blackford Middleton reported on one panel from the course     “Two providers from the Partners Healthcare System (both MGH docs as it turns out), and two of their patients shared the stage for a bit to each offer their perspectives on doctor-patient email, use of the PHR, and what does it all mean in terms of the e-enabled doctor-patient relationship, and more.”