• NewsMakers •
MPV
Three multispecialty groups contracted with Medical
Present Value Inc. (MPV) to improve their payer
contract oversight. The 1,200-provider Novant Medical
Group, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C.; the 325-provider
Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, S.C., and the 74-provider
State of Franklin Healthcare Associates based in Johnson City,
Tenn., are using MPV’s Phynance application to monitor contract
terms, fee schedules and payment policies.
Trinity Health
A $315 million process improvement initiative underway
among 12 Trinity Health hospital systems is shortening medication
turnaround time, reducing lengths of stay, and improving
quality of care. The initiative, known as Genesis, includes
activation of HealthQuest and Cerner PowerChart applications
in support of an implementation of an integrated registration
and EHR system across its network of community hospitals
throughout seven core states. The implementations, which include
clinical documentation and computerized physician order
entry systems, make Trinity Health the third largest clinical
repository of evidence-based knowledge in the country.
Phytel
Wisconsin-based Holy Family Memorial selected the
Proactive Patient Outreach product from automated patient follow-up process solutions provider Phytel. The product
integrates with the healthcare network’s existing technology,
including practice management and EMR systems, and incorporates
lab, prescription and other clinical data. The 65-provider
multispecialty group uses the solution to automate the
follow-up process for its patient population, specifically patients
with chronic conditions and those in need of preventative care
services.
e-Health Global Technologies
HKS Medical Information Systems Inc. and eHealth
Global Technologies are partnering to offer a fully integrated
solution to streamline medical record management for organ
transplant units. The Organ Transplant Tracking Record and eHealthConnect systems provide users with one interface for
all referred patient medical record requests. After retrieving
the patient information, the system digitizes and uploads the
record directly into the transplant unit’s OTTR system, giving
clinicians a more complete patient medical record management
process and improving patient care.
Design Clinicals
Myrtue Medical Center is implementing the MedsTracker
software from Design Clinicals to improve medication management
for patients and to exceed The Joint Commission’s
national Patient safety goals for medication reconciliation.
Myrtue Medical Center is a rural, integrated healthcare delivery
system located in Harlan, Iowa.
D2 Sales
UW Health is deploying the My Patient Passport Express
kiosks from D2 Sales as part of a pilot program that began last
year. The first kiosks are operating at the UW Health West
Clinic and offer its patients a quick and private way to check
in for an appointment at one of the 20 participating specialty
clinics at UW Health West. In addition, UW Health is using
the kiosks to enable patients to schedule future appointments,
update their medical history, make copayments using a credit
card and sign documents using the kiosk’s integrated electronic
signature pad.
Life:WIRE
CPM Health Centres Inc. is using mobile communications
and wireless health information solutions from Toronto-based Life:WIRE Corp. for improving clinical outcomes, care management
and pharmaceutical adherence. Care managers at CPM
use the solution to track patient health conditions, treatments
and activities, and graph clinical outcomes. CPM expects the
input and reporting system to encourage patients to integrate
good health practices into their lives. Through real-time interactions,
the technology can provide clinicians with information to
assist them to tailor treatment and improve outcomes.
ScImage
Supply chain services company Broadlane awarded ScImage
a 3-year contract for its multi-department picture archiving
and communications system for radiology, cardiology and
other image-producing healthcare system departments. The
agreement became effective June 1, 2008, and offers Broadlane
clients an enterprisewide imaging and information management
solution using ScImage’s PicomEnterprise. The agreement enables
Broadlane clients to acquire ScImage’s PICOM solution
under a unique selection of acquisition options. The system
integrates image display functionality into existing electronic
medical records solutions by delivering a pick list of studies
from which to select a specific exam or an individual key image
from within the patient’s medical record.