Industry Insight

University Creates Real-Time, EHR-Based Cancer Registry

The University of Kentucky has created the nation’s first working model for EHR reporting of cancer cases to the state’s cancer registry.

Cancer incidence is higher in Kentucky than in any other state. The EHR model allows Kentucky oncologists and other providers to feed clinical data to the Kentucky Cancer Registry in real time, helping epidemiologists identify trends in cancer statistics more quickly than before.

The model officially was put in use on October 19, 2012. Reports for five cancer cases newly diagnosed at Paducah Dermatology PLLC were securely transmitted using the Team Chart Concept EHR system provided by Ulrich Medical Concepts, Inc.

The Kentucky Cancer Registry, Kentucky Regional Extension Center, and Kentucky Health Information Exchange currently are partnering with 43 additional cancer care providers across the state to establish EHR reporting to the registry.

Physician EHR reporting to cancer registries officially becomes part of stage 2 meaningful use on January 1, 2014.

— Source: University of Kentucky

 

New Credentialing Program to Focus on Data Security

(ISC)², an information security professional body and administrators of the CISSP (certified information systems security professional) credential, and the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST), a nonprofit organization responsible for the development, management, education, and awareness relating to health information security and aiding the healthcare industry in advancing the state of information protection, recently announced they have entered into an agreement to meet the growing demand for qualified security professionals who can protect sensitive healthcare information. This relationship also was established to allow both organizations to connect with key stakeholders in the healthcare market that can contribute to building new IT security certification and education programs for healthcare professionals.

According to a recently released HITRUST report, the healthcare industry has made little progress in reducing the number of breaches, and the industry’s susceptibility to certain types of breaches has been largely unchanged since breach data became available from Health and Human Services (HHS), and HIPAA and the HITECH Act went into effect.

The HITRUST analysis concludes that every organization would benefit from better education of professionals and the simpler identification of the necessary skills in professionals available to assist them in their security efforts. In fact, HHS recommends that smaller organizations seek out certified professionals to help conduct risk assessment and analysis if they lack the capability in-house.

Some of the key challenges that healthcare organizations face today regarding data security include the following:

• They must not only safeguard sensitive patient information within their immediate sphere of control, but they also must ensure the security and privacy of the information shared with their vendors, contractors, and business partners.

• They must comply with vague and nonprescriptive regulations at various levels with HIPAA, HITECH, and meaningful use.

• They must contend with the complexities posed by a wide range of business partners with differing capabilities, requirements, and risk profiles.

• They must continuously address significant security, privacy, and compliance risks in an effort to protect patient information.

This new cooperative development between HITRUST and (ISC)² will establish metrics for qualifications held by information protection professionals in the industry.

— Source: (ISC)²

 

iMedX Acquires Greenlight Transcription

iMedX Inc, a healthcare software and services company, has completed the acquisition of the assets of Greenlight Transcription, LLC. With this acquisition, iMedX adds Greenlight’s many clinics in Oregon to its customer base.

The acquisition of Greenlight expands iMedX’s base of clinic customers, increases penetration in the Pacific Northwest, and establishes a customer service presence in Oregon. Greenlight’s customers will have access to advanced technology through iMedX’s cloud-based healthcare information solutions: TurboScribe document management and TurboRx stand-alone e-prescribing. Additionally iMedX’s TurboDox, a blend of technology and process, will facilitate physician use of EHRs through dictation, scanning, and abstraction, and will help doctors remain productive through EHR implementation and beyond.

— Source: iMedX Inc

 

digiChart Names Jacobson as New Board Chairman

digiChart, Inc recently announced that Harry Jacobson, MD, has been named the new chairman of digiChart’s board of directors. digiChart is a national provider of specialty-specific EHR and practice management system solutions for OB-GYN practices. Jacobson replaces digiChart’s former chairman, G. William Bates, MD, MBA, who has been named chairman emeritus of the company.

The former vice chancellor for health affairs at Vanderbilt University in Nashville and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Jacobson is a nationally renowned healthcare investor and entrepreneur, having founded or cofounded several companies.

Jacobson is chairman of MedCare Investment Funds and a founder and managing director of TriStar Technology Ventures. He has been both a formal and informal advisor to several venture and private equity funds. Currently, Jacobson serves on the boards of several of MedCare’s portfolio companies as well as Ingram Industries and Specialty Care.

— Source: digiChart, Inc