Current Care vs My EMR Lab Interface
We have lab and imaging interfaces already set up. I order a test and the result comes back electronically directly into the patient's file and it is flagged for review. This is a wonderful tool, one of the key workflow efficiencies using an EMR. Current Care is a new system that will provide lab and imaging results in a central hub where any physician with the credentials can log on to view a patient's results. How will that impact my interfaces? Will I still get my results or will I have to log on to Current Care to get my results? If the latter, it will be very inefficient - and the results won't be available directly in the patient's file unless I download them.
I would ask the question in another way - what about all those without electronic interfaces? Will they be able to set up the interfaces to tap into the highly efficient method of handling the huge volume of test reports that primary care providers - and specialists - deal with on a regular basis? I am concerned that the centralization of the reporting may jeopardize the ability for providers to have interfaces directly with their EMRs. Are commercial labs and imaging centers going to continue to put forth the effort to help create interfaces at the provider/practice level if their attention is being taken by the more global effort with Current Care?
Answers
Thanks for the feedback. However, I want to point out my concern once again. I have been on an EMR for over 4 years and have been very involved with the HIT movement. Unfortunately many things are developed and implemented without adequate vision to make sure that the end user is getting a functional/workable product based upon their needs. The lab/imaging interfaces are a huge part of the efficiency and safety that the EMR provides. I have no doubt that the HIE is going to integrate everything very nicely so anyone can access the information from the main hub. I have still not heard from anyone that the system will be set up to allow the end user, primary care doctor in their office, the ability to see their data in a format that allows trending, mapping, reporting, etc at the point of care. I am concerned that the creation of interfaces via the HIE to provide global access will necessitate forfeiting the control of data that is currently housed in the EMR of the ordering provider that primarily manages the long-term care of the patient.
Using an EHR? Yes - eClinicalWorks
Disclosure: Owner/practicing partner of Aquidneck Medical Associates, Inc. Contracted as the Case Management Physician Advisor at Newport Hospital (a Lifespan affiliate) and as an advisor for BCBS of RI to help facilitate HIT integration in community practices
As you know through your generous and continued support as part of RIQI committees, the overall community vision of currentcare is one statewide HIE. The project began with enrollment followed by user acceptance testing, which we are currently in the process of completing. The next step once the user acceptance testing is complete will be to bring physician offices on. Our goal is to aggregate the EMRs and integrate them into the HIE. Even though the project timeline is not finite these are the main components of the project and we are in the process of seeing the project come to fruition.
Using an EHR? No
It is important for practices with interfaces or considering to set up interfaces, to know what direction the HIE is going. If the model of data management that is being set up on a global (statewide) level is different than that which we are using or trying to establish, we might end up wasting our time/money doing the wrong thing. Also, it is critical for whatever system that is set up to allow appropriate data integration/management/reporting, etc. I would like to know what the long-range plan is for interfaces - is that public information such that it can be shared here on the site?
Using an EHR? Yes - eClinicalWorks
Disclosure: Owner/practicing partner of Aquidneck Medical Associates, Inc. Contracted as the Case Management Physician Advisor at Newport Hospital (a Lifespan affiliate) and as an advisor for BCBS of RI to help facilitate HIT integration in community practices
At this time there is not an interface between currentcare and the EMR. We have initiated a pilot program with Landmark Hospital and Thundermist Health Center that is currently being conducted to test the integration capabilities of currentcare with physician EMR systems. We do not yet have the results of this program and are at this time unable to determine when an interface will be available.
Using an EHR? No