Industry Insight

WEDI Develops 2013 Report to Guide Next Generation of HIE

The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) recently announced the development of a new report to be released in December, 20 years after the release of the organization’s initial report. The 1993 WEDI Report provided a vision for the industry to successfully transition to electronic data interchange standards as a way to bring cost-efficiencies to burdensome administrative processes. The report led directly to the administrative simplification provisions in HIPAA, which gave the industry transactions and code set standards, security and privacy requirements, the National Provider and Employer Identifiers, and the forthcoming Health Plan Identifier.

On the 20th anniversary of the original report, the WEDI is bringing together health care, corporate, and government organizations to create an updated report to guide the future of health information exchange (HIE). The 2013 report will be overseen by an executive steering committee consisting of representatives from 15 organizations representing health care, corporate, and government organizations.

The 2013 report will identify the impacts of administrative and clinical technologies on the health care industry since 1993 and the likely role of emergent technologies in the years ahead. High-level lessons learned and the impact of technology and market forces on the original recommendations also will be documented in the updated report.

— Source: Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange

 

Villanova Examines New Ways to Implement Six Sigma Methodology

Many organizations have problems reducing waste and inefficiencies, especially in health care, where delivering quality patient care is a constant balancing act with controlling costs.

Published in Villanova University’s Spring catalog, the article “Why the Healthcare Industry Needs Six Sigma” outlines the many successful outcomes that are possible with Six Sigma implementation in a health care setting. Topics covered include correcting health care errors and inefficiencies from misfiling paperwork to drug delivery mistakes; Six Sigma tools that apply to different situations, including the DMAIC methodology and DMADV methodology; and Six Sigma success in health care, including the case study of a health care provider that saved more than $3 million within the first five years of Six Sigma implementation.

The catalog also features a variety of Six Sigma course offerings that can help prepare professionals for Six Sigma certification, including the following certificate programs:

• Master Certificate in Six Sigma—Healthcare: Learn to solve the unique problems found in health care—from small, rural clinics to large metropolitan hospital systems—using proven Six Sigma techniques.

• Master Certificate in Six Sigma—Information Technology: Discover how Six Sigma has evolved from manufacturing use to one that can be applied across an entire organization, including software and systems development.

• Master Certificate in Six Sigma—Financial Services: Understand how to enhance risk management and overall efficiencies (for financial professionals).

• Advanced Master Certificate in Lean Six Sigma: Expand your influence and organizational impact by earning both an advanced master and black belt certificates.

• New Master Certificate in Lean Enterprise Solutions: Learn to use the core concepts of Six Sigma and Lean methodologies to make better business decisions. Students will have the option to specialize in either health care, financial services, or IT.

To read the article and learn more about the certificate programs, download the catalog at www.villanovau.com/ss3catalog.

— Source: The University Alliance

 

Temple Establishes New Institute for Population Health

Temple University Health System (TUHS) has established the Institute for Population Health.

The institute is the basis for several programs that already exist at Temple, including Temple's Community Health Worker Program. TUHS is developing and providing a comprehensive training program for community health workers, who serve as liaisons between patients and their primary-care physicians in an effort to improve patient compliance and reduce preventable hospital readmission rates and unnecessary emergency department visits.

The Institute for Population Health will collaborate with primary care practices, federally qualified health clinics, city health clinics, and other resources to assure timely, complete, and accurate communication when patients are seen in Temple's emergency department or admitted to the hospital. The institute will establish relationships with acute rehabilitation units, subacute nursing facilities, community hospitals, nursing homes, and long term acute care hospitals to facilitate vertical integration of care.

The institute also has been invited to collaborate with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to develop a planning grant for a strategy to provide optimal, quality- and cost-effective care that will enhance the health of its citizens.

— Source: Temple University Health System