[EMRexpert]

Health IT vendors to show capabilities of electronic health records at HIMSS12.

Jan. 4, 2012, 8:45 a.m. EST

MedAllies Selected to Present Its Direct Solution at the HIMSS12 Interoperability Showcase in February, to Be Demonstrated with NextGen Healthcare and Greenway EHR systems

FISHKILL, N.Y., Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- MedAllies Direct HISP Solution uses existing technology to improve care transitions in a manner consistent with practice workflows

MedAllies has been selected to participate in the HIMSS12 Interoperability Showcase, demonstrating its Direct HISP Solution, an innovative tool to optimize patient care, safety and efficiency through the Direct exchange of crucial patient data.

MedAllies, along with health IT vendors NextGen Healthcare and Greenway Medical Technologies, will demonstrate the capabilities of this technology in the ONC area of the HIMSS12 Interoperability Showcase February 21-23, 2012. The demonstration will repeat the one they presented at November's ONC Annual Grantees meeting in Washington, D.C.

MedAllies was one of only seven sites to launch a pilot for the Direct Project, a national effort spearheaded by the ONC to fast-track electronic information exchange. Each pilot was different; in MedAllies' hands, Direct became a tool to advance primary care models that emphasize care coordination and improved care transitions. The project focuses on common care transition episodes: patient discharge from the hospital back to the primary care physician, a consultation request from a primary care physician to a specialist, and the clinical consultation from the specialist back to the primary care physician. With Direct, clinical information can be moved across disparate electronic health record (EHR) systems in a manner consistent with each practice's established EHR workflow.

The HIMSS demonstration will show precisely how this works. It will involve two clinical sites in upstate New York, Westchester Health Associates (using NextGen® Ambulatory EHR) and Prime Columbia Greene Medical Associates (using Greenway). They will demonstrate a common scenario: A primary care physician (PCP) will request a patient consultation of a cardiologist, after which the cardiologist will return the consultation report to the PCP.

This effort is not about technology for its own sake. It is about technology for the sake of patients, and it is available now. EHRs grow more sophisticated each year but, until recently, their potential has been hampered by the "Tower of Babel" syndrome: Systems from different vendors do not speak the same language. Interoperability--a requirement of Meaningful Use (and, some say, the Holy Grail of health IT)--has been more theory than practice. Its absence puts patients at risk because crucial information may not be communicated when EHRs fail to "understand" each other.

MedAllies remedies that without creating a burden for providers. MedAllies Direct HISP Solution builds on existing technology to achieve interoperability, with physicians using their current EHR systems. The MedAllies approach enhances and optimizes the practices' EHR workflows to process and integrate information exchanged during patient transitions of care. Providers and patients both benefit.

"As physicians, we are committed to providing high-quality, efficient care for our patients. But when a patient comes to our office and we don't have the information we need to care for the patient, it's not only frustrating--it can be life-threatening," explained Holly Miller, M.D., MBA, FHIMSS, chief medical officer of MedAllies. "With MedAllies Direct, clinicians have pertinent clinical information 'pushed' to them in their own EHR system, allowing them to provide the highest quality and most efficient care possible."

MedAllies' demonstration at the Annual ONC All Grantee meeting was well received. To see how well received it was, watch this video from the event praising the demonstration (registration required). Greenway and NextGen share credit for this success.

"It has never been more paramount to seize the opportunities and accelerate the momentum interoperability is driving right now to create a smarter healthcare system, and we are seeing gains in these point-to-point projects, in accountable care coordination, Beacon communities, HIE advancement and many other initiatives," said Justin Barnes, vice president of marketing, industry and government affairs at Greenway.

"We are proud to continue and expand upon our partnership with MedAllies on the Direct Project begun last year and showcased at HIMSS11 with NextGen Healthcare, and as a standard-bearer for the advancement of data exchange," added Barnes, who also serves on the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE-USA) North America board of directors.

Robert Barker, NextGen Healthcare's manager of Interoperability & Standards, stressed the importance of delivering timely, appropriate data to the physicians.

"Implementing the NwHIN Direct specifications as another avenue for interoperability allows the healthcare IT community to share clinical information across disparate systems," he said. "NextGen Healthcare supports the ONC Standards and Interoperability Framework initiatives, and we are pleased to be a part of the upcoming HIMSS demonstration. Standardization of clinical content sharing, transport and schema is the fastest way to see that providers have the right information for the right person at the right time. The Direct Project helps us take an important step in that direction."

About MedAlliesMedAllies, founded in 2001, has extensive experience with EHR implementations and workflow redesign to improve clinical care. It provides unmatched expertise in health information exchange and Direct services. MedAllies operates the THINC eXchange, an HIE designed to increase the completeness of information at the point of care, improve care coordination and standardize quality and public health reporting in New York's Hudson Valley. MedAllies has provided Direct services since the Direct Project's inception and has several pilot sites in New York State. MedAllies' Direct HISP Solution is a tool to advance primary care models that emphasize care coordination and improved care transitions.

About Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc.Greenway Medical Technologies provides innovative EHR, ambulatory healthcare and clinical research business solutions and services to more than 33,000 healthcare providers nationwide, in 30 specialties and subspecialties, by enhancing the delivery of patient care through advanced health IT software and on-demand services that allow physician practices to function at their highest level of efficiency in group practice, IDN, REC, HIE, IPA, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) and Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) settings. Established in 1998, Carrollton, Ga.-based Greenway is a privately held company with more than 500 employees.

About NextGen HealthcareNextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc., provides integrated clinical, financial and connectivity solutions for ambulatory, inpatient and dental provider organizations.

About Westchester Health AssociatesWestchester Health Associates (WHA) is a physician-led multispecialty medical group with over 100 of the area's leading physicians in a large spectrum of medical specialties. WHA has over 45 offices conveniently located throughout Westchester and Putnam. WHA provides state-of-the-art care in a personal, comfortable and compassionate atmosphere.

About Prime Columbia Green Medical Associates (PCGMA)Prime Columbia Greene Medical Associates is an independent, multi-specialty healthcare group that provides efficient, compassionate and high-quality Primary Care and Gastroenterology medical services to adults in the Upstate New York communities of and around Columbia and Greene Counties.

About HIMSSHIMSS is a cause-based, not-for-profit organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare. Founded 50 years ago, HIMSS and its related organizations are headquartered in Chicago with additional offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. HIMSS represents more than 38,000 individual members, of which more than two thirds work in healthcare provider, governmental and not-for-profit organizations. HIMSS also includes over 540 corporate members and more than 120 not-for-profit organizations that share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and management systems. HIMSS frames and leads healthcare practices and public policy through its content expertise, professional development, research initiatives, and media vehicles designed to promote information and management systems' contributions to improving the quality, safety, access, and cost-effectiveness of patient care.

SOURCE MedAllies

Copyright © 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

[MedicalMary]

Snowbound enters electronic medical records industry.

Snowbound Makes Further Push Into Healthcare Market With HIMSS Show & Webinar

January 25, 2012

Secure EMR Viewer for Enhanced Patient Processing & Healthier HIS

Snowbound Software is pleased to announce the firm's great strides into the healthcare market with its document viewing and conversion applications and software development toolkits (SDKs). Healthcare organizations around the world use Snowbound's technology to securely access and display electronic medical records (EMR) and to integrate with, enhance and extend investment in HIS systems. Use of Snowbound's offerings also helps ensure that their healthcare clients meet HITECH/HIPAA requirements for data security and patient privacy.

The company is launching two new programs as part of its market-oriented continuing education series – the first thrust of which is geared specifically to the healthcare market. The firm will be exhibiting at the HIMSS healthcare show in Las Vegas on February 20-24, and launching its market-focused webinar series on February 2nd – highlighting some of the real-world uses of Snowbound's technology. Snowbound's document and image viewers and SDKs help organizations around the globe access, view, verify and process a multitude of transactions every day – from secure patient records viewing to streamlined insurance claims processing. Sign up HERE for ‘Secure EMR for a Healthier HIS'.

"Snowbound continues to expand and diversify its client base," explained Simon Wieczner, president of Snowbound Software, "especially in the areas of healthcare, banking/financial services and the insurance industries. We've had the good fortune to experience strong growth even during the recent economic struggles that many have endured. In 2012 we're going to focus our efforts on addressing these vertical markets even more directly, to better position how we can help firms in these areas streamline their document access and processing, assist with compliance efforts, and add value and extend the capabilities of existing systems."

Who is Snowbound Software?

You may not realize it, but you probably interact with us several times every day.

We help deliver your mail, process your insurance forms and claims, expedite your banking transactions and even securely distribute your patient information to healthcare professionals.

Since 1996, our offerings have provided the means to keep information flowing smoothly and securely in the digital age. Using our technology helps organizations better organize and utilize their information, to optimize workflow, and best serve their customers and their employees.

We make powerful solutions for document viewing and conversion that enable information created in a variety of formats to be efficiently and effectively leveraged – to help keep companies running smoothly – and their customers satisfied.

SOURCE: Snowbound Software

[TechHealth]

Dr. Eric Fishman to play for Alzheimer's Association at HIT Quiz Show.

Medicomp Systems Hosts Quipstar, World's Favorite HIT Quiz Show, at HIMSS12

CHANTILLY, Va., Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Medicomp Systems will premiere Quipstar, World's Favorite HIT Quiz Show, on Tuesday, February 21 at HIMSS12. The interactive health information technology quiz show will run February 21 through 23 at Medicomp's exhibit, booth 855. Contestants will compete for prizes using Quippe®, Medicomp's integrated physician and nursing documentation tool, to answer questions related to new industry coding and documentation requirements such as ICD-10 and meaningful use. Everyone receiving Quippe training and seated in Quipstar's live studio audience will also have a chance to win prizes, including free iPad2®s and other giveaways.

Each show will also feature a special guest, or "Quip Star," who plays for a $5,000 donation to their favorite charity. Danielle Hartley, Publisher of MedTech Media will be playing for The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital for the kickoff show on Tuesday at 3:30 pm. "Inga" of HIStalk will play for Mobile Loaves and Fishes during the Wednesday show at 4 pm and Dr. Eric Fishman of EHRtv will be playing for the Alzheimer's Association on Thursday at 11 am.

According to Dave Lareau, Chief Operations Officer at Medicomp, "Quipstar is a great way to actually put Quippe into the hands of clinicians and EHR developers so that they can see how easy to use and learn Quippe really is. We tell everyone that you can learn to use Quippe in under 20 minutes. Quipstar gives us an opportunity to prove it."

In addition to being easy to learn and use, Quippe is ICD-10-CM ready, satisfies meaningful use requirements, is compatible with most EHRs, and runs on most mobile devices. It is powered by Medicomp's MEDCIN® Engine, which adapts to the unique clinical presentation of each patient and provides all of the codes needed for compliance and reimbursement.

Lareau noted that Quipstar will enable Medicomp to show everyone that Quippe, backed by the MEDCIN Engine, addresses all documentation and compliance challenges while providing the engine for connected clinical care.

SOURCE Medicomp Systems

[TechHealth]

2012 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition gets a new presenter.

Feb. 13, 2012, 10:40 a.m. EST

Anthelio to Present at HIMSS12 Annual Conference & Exhibition Knowledge Center
Executives to Host Talks on the Importance of EHR Usability and ICD-10 Implementation

DALLAS, Feb 13, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Anthelio, a healthcare information technology services and business process solutions provider to hospitals and healthcare organizations, today announced it will present two informative talks on EHR effectiveness and ICD-10 at the 2012 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition at the Venetian Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, NV from February 20-24, 2012.

Wendy Whittington, Chief Medical Officer, MMM, MD and Jack Kowitt, EVP at Anthelio will co-present a session to help healthcare providers turn electronic health record (EHR) data into useful information that improves hospital business and clinical decisions. Whittington and Kowitt will describe a process for setting objectives, training users and optimizing data to achieve better patient care through the efficient use of EHR systems. The session titled, "The EHR and Your Journey to Fully Use its Information" will be presented on Wednesday, February 22nd from 10:00 -- 10:45 a.m. at booth 13247 Kiosk #1.

Anthelio's ICD-10 Practice Lead, Cindy Shaheen and AHIMA Approved ICD-10 trainer Katherine Kremer will explain the importance of preparing for ICD-10 now in order to achieve compliance by October 1, 2013. Using case examples, Shaheen and Kremer will show how the mandate will affect healthcare technology, processes and people, including data integration and transition, billing, payment and reporting, employee training, patient care and more. The session titled, "ICD-10 'What's the Big Deal?' A Case Study" will be presented on Thursday, February 23rd from 11:00 -- 11:45 a.m. at booth 14542 Kiosk #8.

"With the deadline for ICD-10 compliance for healthcare providers coming on October 13, 2013, and the EHR mandate right behind it in 2014, it is crucial that organizations prepare now with timely and intensive conversion processes," says Whittington. "HIMSS12 is a significant learning event and we look forward to being part of it by educating and preparing executives in their ICD-10 implementation process as well as transitions to EHRs, so they can achieve efficiency within their organizations and provide superior patient care at the same time."

The Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition is the largest and most prominent healthcare information technology event in the U.S. addressing topics such as Meaningful Use, ICD-10, EHR, 50150, Health Information Exchange (HIE), Healthcare Reform and more. The event features over 29,000 healthcare industry experts, more than 300 education sessions and approximately 900 exhibitors.

About Anthelio

Anthelio helps hospitals, especially community hospitals, address the challenges of simultaneously improving patient care and financial sustainability. We deliver on a strategy to shift resources and investments from back end operations into front line clinical services. We share a common mission and understand community hospital values, capabilities and constraints.

Anthelio is the largest independent provider of comprehensive healthcare information technology services and business process solutions for hospitals and other healthcare providers. For over ten years we have applied expertise in clinical and administrative IT processes and best practices. This allows us to provide comprehensive, high-quality, flexible and secure IT and business process services. Our customers tell us we help them "structurally bend their cost curves." Anthelio is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

SOURCE: Anthelio

Copyright Business Wire 2012