IT solutions for the healthcare industry continue to morph as the needs of the industry and compliance requirements change
by Michelle Williams, US Lifeline analyst
Hospitals and healthcare professionals who achieved Stage 1 requirements under CMS’ EHR Incentive Program are now facing a deadline for Meaningful Use Stage 2 compliance. According to the CMS website, the two types of objectives, “core” and “menu”, require the use of electronic health record (EHR) systems, computerized provider order entry (CPOE), and patient portals 1 along with other requirements to qualify for incentive payments for Medicare and Medicaid.8
The following are rising health care IT trends as IDNs and hospitals work toward gaining Stage 2 compliance. Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO)have emerged to assist in the data management process and help hospitals, patients, professionals and pharmacies in secure record sharing between EHR systems. Health information exchange between healthcare providers is one of CMS’s Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements. 1 Participation in RHIO is voluntary, covers a specific geographic area, and is subject to electronic data exchange capability. RHIO’s typically have resources to help healthcare organizations get up IT Solutions and Stage 2 Compliance IT solutions for the healthcare industry continue to morph as the needs of the industry and compliance requirements change to speed on IT implementation at the corporate level. 3
Concierge programs have been developed to give hospitals and professionals the option of automatic data submission and reduce the need for the IT department’s manual data push to state agencies and CMS. National software solution companies are stepping up to help streamline data submission. CMS’ Meaningful Use Stage 2 requires that hospitals and professionals transmit public health data to home states.1 Each state has different requirements for submission of the data. Some states, including California, have seen benefits of concierge software programs and have sanctioned their use in health information exchanges(HIX), allowing hospital systems to have more options in transmitting data to state agencies.4
Secure roaming software is another technology continuing to develop in response to wide use of mobile devices and Meaningful Use Stage 2 core objectives requirements. Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) must be used for 60 percent of medication orders, 30 percent of lab tests, and 30 percent of radiology orders.2 Using CPOE, hospitals and IDNs are required to track other patient information like electronic notes and family health history.1 With handheld devices, tablets and smart phones readily available for use, secure roaming technology is available to combine time saving functionality and HIPAA compliant security.5 Secure user login, timed out sessions and controlled records access6 fulfills HIPAA security rules on protecting patient information. Hospitals and professionals now have the flexibility of entering and accessing patient information through mobile devices into an EHR system while meeting CMS Stage 2’s higher percentage of use requirement.
Patient portals, in combination with existing EHR systems, help hospitals and healthcare professionals meet CMS’ Stage 2 requirement by allowing patients to view online, download and transfer their personal health information.1 Software companies have gone beyond the capability of accessing health records and combined secure access to billing, appointments, refill requests and secure messaging with doctors and hospitals. Patients have greater access to their own medical information now more than ever and the capability of taking active roles in their medical treatment and wellness.7
Healthcare IT is a vital partner in healthcare systems, IDNs, and professional providers managing data, meeting requirements and protecting patient’s personal information. Software solutions for the healthcare industry continue to morph as the needs of the industry and compliance requirements change. CMS’ Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements have played a vital role in the growing and ever-changing solutions and support. Healthcare IT continues to anticipate the next generation of technology and ever changing environment of healthcare.
Sources:
- Stage 2 Overview Tipsheet, last updated: August, 2012. Pages 1-9 https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/Downloads/Stage2Overview_Tipsheet.pdf
- Stage 2 Eligible Professional Meaningful Use Core Measures 1 to 17, Date issued: October, 2012. http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/downloads/Stage2_EPCore_1_CPOE_MedicationOrders.pdf
- “What is a regional health information organization (RHIO)?, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Information Technology. http://www.hrsa.gov/healthit/toolbox/RuralHealthITtoolbox/Collaboration/whatisrhio.html
- “California Hospitals Get Boost in Race Against Federal Healthcare Deadline”, MedHost, Aug 28, 2014. http://www.medhost.com/news-and-events/press-releases/california-hospitals-get-boost-in-race-against-federal
- Summary of the HIPAA Security Rule, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Information Privacy, General Rules. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/srsummary.html
- “Supporting hospitals in the mitigation of legal and financial risk associated with the protection and securement of PHI”, PHI Security, Aventura Awareness Computing. http://aventurahq.com/market-drivers/protecting-phi-security/
- “Measuring the Impact of Patient Portals: What the Literature Tells Us.”, Seth Emont, PHD, MS prepared for California HealthCare Foundation, May, 2011, page 2. http://www.chcf.org/~/media/MEDIA%20LIBRARY%20Files/PDF/M/PDF%20MeasuringImpactPatientPortals.pdf
- EHS Incentive Programs, CMS.gov. http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/index.html?redirect=/EHRIncentivePrograms