The article about Pediatric Associates in CA has a nugget with a potentially outsized impact: the implication that VFC vaccines…
News 4/30/09
From Evan Steele: "Re: SRS and CCHIT. Just a clarification regarding the post where you mention that ‘SRS is taking a strong anti-CCHIT stance…’ Although it sometimes appears as if that is our stance, there is a place for CCHIT software in lower patient volume settings (e.g. primary care and academic practices). That market represents a huge opportunity for the CCHIT vendors. SRS is designed for the high-volume, high-performance market segment and has built a large national network of such practices over the past 12 years. I like to view SRSsoft’s positioning as not ‘us versus CCHIT’ but ‘SRS for high-performance physicians’ and ‘CCHIT for lower-volume physicians.’" SRS, by the way, just announced it signed up Cascade Orthopaedics, a 15-doctor practice in Washington. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but the latest press release makes absolutely no mention of CCHIT.
From EMR Vendor: "Re: ACP conference. I think most vendors will echo the fact that the attendees were knowledgeable physicians, who came looking for solutions, and know they need to buy. Physicians attend this show for the education and the exhibit hours are really in 45-75 minute increments. ACP arranged for a vendor shootout/demo of four different products. Seems like everyone is in the queue for CCHIT 2008 certification, if they were not already certified. Some EMR vendors were overwhelmed with traffic and others looked pretty desolate. We were consumed by prospects as well as reps from other companies pitching their resumes." EMR Vendor exhibited at last weekend’s American College of Physicians Internal Medicine 2009 meeting in Philadelphia, which was attended by about 6,000 internists.
From Spicy Girl: "Re: Miami and Medicare fraud. OMG, this line made me laugh out loud: ‘These are probably not the kind of things the visitor’s bureau talks much about.’ Thanks for the smile! I needed it!"
EHR vendor MedLink International and Clinical Laboratory Management (CLM) enter into an affiliation agreement that includes CLM’s promotion of MedLink’s TotalOffice EHR and Medlink EHR Lite products. In addition, MedLink users will be able to interface with CLM for lab ordering and results reporting.
McKesson promotes Randy Spratt to the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer. Spratt will also maintain his current role as executive VP and CIO.
Within hours of winning confirmation as the country’s HHS secretary, Kathleen Sebelius was thrust into the middle of the public health emergency involving swine flu. Her confirmation had been swirling in some controversy, but those issues likely took a back seat to the more pressing need for a permanent leader to take charge. Baptism by fire hose, perhaps?
Sunset Medical Practice Group (OR) and Diagnostic Imaging Solutions (CO) select Digital Healthcare’s Retasure solution to assess the retinal health of their diabetes patients.
The JPS Health Network (TX) moves forward on plans to build a clinic dedicated to treaty the Fort Worth needy, including the homeless. The planned clinic would provide medical services plus offer "wrap-around" services targeted at reducing homelessness and moving people to permanent housing.
Executives from the EHR Association testify at this week’s National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics hearings to help define "meaningful use." During his testimony, Justin Barnes, the chairman of the HIMSS-sponsored EHR Association and VP for Greenway Medical Technologies expressed his support for building "on the successes of CCHIT, HITSP and NQF."
Most US physicians have a positive attitude toward the electronic promotion of pharmaceutical companies, with three-fourths believing the approach is equal or superior to face-to-face communication (which is likely good news if you want to get into the pharma business but don’t have the looks of a college cheerleader). It would be interesting to know if doctors (and their staff) feel the same way when selecting electronic medical records or practice management tools. Will the bag-carrying sales rep be replaced by a remote demo expert pushing product over a high-speed connection? Or will practices still desire the more personal, onsite approach that gives a sales rep a better understand all that is unique about their clinic?
The 150-provider Polyclinic (WA) signs a contract with Swedish Medical Center to implement Epic EHR. Swedish Medical Center already uses Epic across its four campuses.
The AAFP, AAP, ACP, and AOA release a Guideline for Patient Centered Medical Home Demonstration Projects, which includes a set of endorsed guidelines for any project testing a medical home model. Included are recommendations on who should collaborate on projects, how participating practices should be chosen, what type of support should be provided, how practices should be reimbursed, and how results should be analyzed.
The AMA and the Michigan State Medical society partner with Compuware’s Covinst to provide Michigan physicians increased access to HIT tools and information. Some of the initial programs include e-prescribing and EHR/PM options.The AMA will use feedback from Michigan physicians to build on its upcoming nationwide portal project.
I have noticed that there is rarely any mention of clinical trials IT vendors on this site. I am not associated with Clinical Trials nor any vendor or consulting group but keep bumping in to the problem of how to manage trials from patient access, revenue cycle and clinical IT integration perspectives.
Can we get some help here?
Best,
Al
Um, is that a misquote or mis-speak from the SRS folks? Since when is primary care a LOW VOLUME segment of medicine? I don’t know many orthopods who have to hit 30+ patients a day to pay the bills, but maybe that’s just me.
Ironically, all the SRS customers I know are primary care.
Nice marketing spin from the SRS folks about being the “preferred” choice for large group practices and leaving the single physician or small group practices to CCHIT vendors. My view is that these “light” EHR products are treading water and only a matter of time before they get slapped hard by the “meaningful use” wave. Oh by the way, there are plenty of cheap document management solutions available in the market today.