News 9/13/11

From Lauren Alaina: “Re: exemption from 2012 eRx penalties. Providers can access the exemption request form at www.qualitynet.org/pqrs. In the ‘Related Links’ box on the upper left, click on ‘Communication Support Page,’ which displays the online form.  Once a provider finds the site, the process seems pretty straightforward!” Thanks, Lauren. Apparently the portal just went live last week. It looks like it will take providers about a minute to file an exemption.

HHS, AT&T, and the American Association of Diabetes Education announce a diabetes self-management training project that uses mobile health technology. AT&T is contributing $100,000 to cover the cost of 150 smartphones for diabetes educators, who will use a video application on the mobile devices to educate patients.

AT&T, by the way, names its first CMIO, rheumatologist Geeta Nayyar MD, MBA. She most recently served as principal medical officer at Vangent.

North Clinic (MN) chooses eClinicalWorks EHR for its 84 employed providers. The clinic will integrate eCW with Epic’s in-patient system at a nearby hospital (North Memorial, I am guessing.)

Wasatch Pediatrics (UT) integrates Phreesia’s automated patient check-in solution with its existing Greenway PrimeSUITE EHR/PM product.

In its first three months of general availability, NaviNet signs up more than 1,000 providers for its PM/EMR solution.

The 317-provider Piedmont Clinic (GA) partners with MD On-Line for electronic claims submission and RCM services.

The100-provider Wilmington Health (NC) will integrate its Allscripts Professional EHR with Humedica MinedShare’s clinical analytics solution. Wilmington Health will also join Ancenta, AMGA’s collaborative data warehouse, which was co-developed with Humedica.

Kareo partners with MD-IT to offer an integrated solution with Kareo’s PM/RCM software and MD-IT’s medical documentation solution.

American Well and Numera announce a strategic collaboration that will deliver real-time health monitoring over American Well’s telehealth network. During online visits, providers will have live access to biometric information through Numera’s gateway. Clinical information can then be captured and stored as part of a Continuity of Care Record.

ENT and Allergy Associates (NY) integrates Intuit Health’s patient portal with NextGen’s EMR, giving its patients the ability to complete medical histories online prior to appointments.

Ophthalmology EMR provider Integrity Data Solutions promotes Chris Moore from COO to CEO.

US doctors, particularly orthopedic surgeons, earn more than their counterparts in Europe, Canada, and Australia. Primary care doctors are paid 27% to 70% more than their foreign peers, while orthopedic surgeons earn 70% to 120% more. The difference in earnings is attributed to higher fees rather than factors such as higher practice costs, volume of services, or education debt.

McKesson announces the creation of a new division, McKesson Specialty Health, which will focus on improving the health of community-based physician practices and their patients.

E-mail Inga.