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Industry Insight
Contract Awarded to Enhance Interoperability for VA Benefits Records Systems

CACI International has received a task order award to provide core development support for the VA’s Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) program. With a value of $14 million, this 18-month contract is one of 25 that CACI has received under the $91 million VLER prime contract.

VLER is an across-the-board solution that consolidates electronic health and benefits records of Armed Forces members for exchange within the VA and externally to the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. Under the VLER Core Development task order, CACI will build the Data Access Service (DAS), a key component of VLER that will electronically move data throughout various VA and external systems, helping veterans receive their benefits faster. The company's use of flexible, modular technology to build DAS enables VLER to easily, quickly, and cost-effectively connect disparate systems.

Read more »
Editor's E-Note
I’m not making apologies for choosing to focus on the top HIM risks of 2014 as the topic for this month’s E-News Exclusive. After all, retail stores trot out their Christmas displays in conjunction with their Halloween fare.

More importantly, as any HIM professional worth his or her credentials will tell you, preparation is paramount to a smooth-running department. So, without further adieu, please take a look at 10 issues that may disrupt operations in the coming year.

— Lee DeOrio, editor
E-News Exclusives
HIM's Top 10 Risks for 2014:
The Right Preparation Means Everything
By Rita Bowen, MA, RHIA, CHPS, SSGB,
and Jan McDavid, Esq

There’s a top 10 list for everything: the top 10 millionaires who have disappeared, top 10 weird eating habits, top 10 bizarre items confiscated at airports. Less odd but very important, HIM has a top 10 list, too.

The following list of top 10 HIM risks in 2014 can help professionals safely prepare for what’s coming. Our list doesn’t include the drum rolls or humor that accompany David Letterman’s famous top 10 lists, but it does rank HIM risks from largest to smallest. It includes everything from HIPAA Omnibus compliance to meaningful use. And yes, ICD-10, too.

10. Poor transition to ICD-10: The implementation of ICD-10 already is top of mind and top of list for providers, payers, and clearinghouses. Executives finally are on board, too. A recent HIMSS leadership survey confirms ICD-10 as the top financial system focus.

Organizations unable to produce a clean claim under ICD-10 will not be reimbursed for the services they provide. It’s that simple—and that important.

Full Story »
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Meaningful Use Audits Create Anxiety
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Algorithms and Clues
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A 'Note'-worthy Collaborative Takes Shape
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Five Challenges Facing Transcription Managers
You may be asking yourself, “What, only five?” Experts considered these to be the most pressing issues in the current landscape. Read more »
AHIMA Conference Preview
AHIMA Celebrates 85 Years

AHIMA’s 85th Annual Convention and Exhibit will draw HIM thought leaders, professionals, and health care executives from all areas to focus on HIM’s global transformation.

The meeting, taking place October 26 to 30 in Atlanta, will provide comprehensive updates, education, and information on current and emerging HIM issues and challenges designed to help health care professionals tackle initiatives and plan for the future as well as work on their personal development and day-to-day duties. More than 225 exhibitors will showcase the latest health care solutions, technologies, and products.

Keynote speeches include the following:

Full Story »
Industry Insight
Houston to Invest $1.6 Million
in EMRs
Houston's Health and Human Services department is going to invest a nice chunk of change on EMRs, according to the Houston Business Journal.

For Secure Health Care Data,
Thwart Future Attacks
A Vanderbilt University professor says health care organizations must become proactive when it comes to securing patient data.
Ask the Expert
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e-mail to edit@gvpub.com.
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Pre-AHIMA Conference Digital Supplement
Is Your ICD-10 Journey Going Off Course?
Practical Steps to Take in HIM

Be on the lookout for For The Record's Digital Supplement featuring ICD-10 and other related HIM topics, coming next week!

Visit www.ForTheRecordmag.com/digitaleditions.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for their support.
Tech & Tools
CVS/pharmacy App With Drug Interaction Checker
The CVS/pharmacy app now includes a drug interaction checker feature, which allows customers to quickly and easily check for potential drug interactions by comparing over-the-counter (OTC) products with their prescriptions and other OTC medications they may be taking. Users enter the name of the product or active ingredients or they scan the UPC bar code with their smartphone camera. The checker then will compare available product details against the OTC or prescription medications that are manually entered or imported through the patient's online MyCVS Pharmacy account. The tool will identify possible interactions based on a comprehensive, continually updated database of drug information to alert users of any potential issues. Learn more »

AlliedHealthCareers.com
A Secure, Anonymous Résumé Bank
Job Alerts Sent to Your E-mail
Physicians Practice iPad App
Physicians Practice, a practice management resource for physicians and medical office staff, has released the second digital issue of its free iPad application. The tablet app combines Physicians Practice's practical advice with interactive features such as podcasts, videos, and personalized checklists. The second issue provides articles, tools, and multimedia presentations to help practices better select and get the most from their technology purchases. This edition's features include a complete guide to the meaningful use program, tips for connecting with "mobile" patients, financial strategies to help practices acquire the latest technology, and apps and gadgets to improve life in and outside of the office. Learn more »

Kaiser Permanente App
Kaiser Permanente updated its flagship mobile app to feature an interactive design, more native functionality to boost speed and overall performance, and an American With Disabilities Act–compliant user interface for the hearing and vision impaired. The app offers the same tools available through My Health Manager, the organization's member portal, which enables members to e-mail their doctors, view test results, refill prescriptions, and manage appointments. Now, when members book an appointment, they can save it to their device's calendar. A map with directions to the appointment location also is embedded into the appointment details screen. Learn more »

TruClinic Telehealth Portal
A partnership between TruClinic and University of Utah Hospital's telemedicine department will enable patients and practitioners to have video-based online visits and consultations with just a computing device, an Internet connection, and a webcam. TruClinic is a cloud-based telehealth portal that enables health systems, provider groups, and specialty practices to offer online, clinically meaningful consultations to their patients through video, secure messaging, and voice-over Internet protocol. The platform helps remove the barriers of location, allowing more patients to access high quality health care. Learn more »