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North Berkshire's Lead in e-Health Opens Door to Federal FundingBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
06:20PM / Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Hospital officials and partner physicians and staff gathered in the Clark House dining room on Thursday for an update and recognition of their efforts in medical information technology. Top, Micky Tripathi of the MAEHC presents a plaque to David Delano, NBH's IT head. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire's "unbelievably successful" venture into health information technology has positioned it to take full advantage of some $45 billion in federal stimulus funding promoting computerized records.
The Northern Berkshire e-Health Collaborative was one of three pilot programs in the state selected four years ago to advance the use of electronic medical records. The program includes North Adams Regional Hospital and the medical staff and physician practices that work with it.
Since the pilot program was launched, North Adams has become a model for sharing and utilizing the digital records. David Delano, director of information technology for Northern Berkshire Healthcare, said the region has a 91 percent "opt in" rate of patients, or some 41,000 out of the 45,000 in the primary service area.
"That shows our patients are supportive and buy in to the process, said Delano. "There have been roughly 4,000 accesses to the shared records in that time. ... Four thousand opportunities for clinicians to have access to information they might not have had access to to provide better care for patients in our community."
The number may not sound like a lot, he continued, but "once is good enough if it saves somebody's life or prevents a medication error or some other adverse events, so we've had 4,000 opportunities to do it right."
Tripathi talks about incentives for going digital. |
The Northern Berkshires has outpaced both its fellows in the pilot program — Newburyport and Brockton — in signing up patients and doctors and sharing information. The hospital and participating physicians were recognized on Thursday at the Clark House on the hospital campus for their efforts in creating the shared system.
"We had a lot of faith and confidence in North Adams and it was paid back in full," said Micky Tripathi, president and chief executive officer of the Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative, adding later that "North Adams has been unbelievably successful, as successful as we would have hoped in every dimension."
North Adams is unique in the nation in its capabilities; many health-care communities are still operating at 10 percent to 15 percent participation rate. This provides not only a strong base to build on but potentially puts the region in first in line for millions in federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Beginning in 2011, and each two years after that, benchmarks will be set for more funding for both hospitals and doctors providing care to Medicaid and Medicare patients, said Tripathi, who co-chairs a federal working group on information exchange that has made recommendations on benchmarks to Medicaid/Medicare. The goal is to ensure "meaningful usage" of the data being compiled.
Palmisano thanks physicians, especially Dr. Anthony Smeglin, for being visionaries. |
"This is not just about putting computers in offices. It's not about the technology," he said, but rather how the records are being used to provide better, more comprehensive and more meaningful health care.
Doctors could see from $44,000 to $65,000 in federal incentives.
By 2015, the goal is that the one missing dimension in the system — the patient — will have not only access to their electronic medical file but be far more active in managing their own health care and that of their families. Right now, a lot of legal and technological hurdles must be overcome to make that happen, said Tripathi.
"Why were our doctors willing to do this?" said NBH President Richard Palmisano. "Because it improved care outcomes for our patients. We know that health information technology is seen by the current administration and others as the way that we're going to revolutionize care delivery." |
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary. Comments are closed for this article. If you would like to contribute information on this article, e-mail us at info@iBerkshires.com |
Knowing the problems one encounters when using computers for simple tasks, I fear our medical records will not be safely stored in them.
And as I understand it, our medical records are already available on computers, yet the doctors and PA's I visit, still ask such questions as are you allergic to any anti-biotics? what medications do you take?
Editor: Mr. Tripathi said the records use a number, rather than a name, system and that 'white hat' hackers are hired to check security. I would guess they're as safe as your credit cards, bank accounts and IRS information. As to why doctors ask the same questions over and over again, I can't answer.
I hope, however, this initiative means I won't have to give my life history every time I go to the ER. That's a real pain. | | from: perplexed | on: 08-19-2009 12:00AM
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Editor, thanks.
But I'm not worried about anyone getting my medical information. It's just that I know computers break down and bungle things and that is scary when it comes to medical records.
As for people being supportive, what else could we do. Scare tactics were used to "encourage" us to sign statements giving permission to have our records computerized-- paragraph pointing out we could be putting our lives in danger, if we didn't sign.
That's enough from me.
Editor: Computer systems can definitely break down but actual data storage is pretty secure nowadays. If you're talking about GIGO (garbage in, garbage out), paper records are just as susceptible as digital ones. Computerized systems, however, could be programmed to raise flags if the data doesn't fit (not saying it does now, just that it can). If one of your tests is misfiled in a paper record system (and believe me, they do), good luck tracking it down.
Plus, the goal is to let you access your records as another check. How often do you look at your paper records?
I hear you on the "threat" in the consent form. I know a couple who won't sign up based on that and distrust of computer systems in general.
| | from: perplexed | on: 08-20-2009 12:00AM
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