Electronic health records vendor successfully demonstrates interoperability; crucial step for "meaningful use"

AUSTIN, TX — Today , an industry leader in the development and implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) and practice management (PM) solutions, announced its Solution Series™ Chart product has completed the 2010 Integrating Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) Connectathon. For the third consecutive year, was a participant in the healthcare IT industry's largest interoperability testing event. Held in Chicago, IL from January 11–15, the conference tested 138 healthcare information technology systems by 90 HIT solution providers.

The Connectathon provides health information technology companies with a structured environment that allows them to test how well their software can communicate information via IHE "Profiles" with products from other companies. IHE profiles are based on healthcare IT industry standards such as HL7 and DICOM as well as data exchange standards used in the broader technology domain. The profiles are developed to solve workflow "pain points" for clinicians that involve the sharing of data from one care setting to another.

Once again, was able to demonstrate interoperability with a number of HIT solution providers through the sharing and updating of patient registration data, the ability to respond to queries on patient demographics and identifiers, the automated uploading and downloading of patient documents (including medical summaries), and by creating new types of clinical documents. The Connectathon allows vendors to demonstrate the ability of their products to "connect" care providers with other healthcare stakeholders, a critical healthcare objective of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

"For the third straight year has excelled at the Connectathon," announced Michael Q. Stearns, MD, President of . Michael Q. Stearns went on to say, "We place great value on industry efforts like the Connectathon and the HIMSS Interoperability Showcase that demonstrate our ability to share information with other healthcare platforms."

"Interoperability is at the core of advances in healthcare related to health information technology and we are now entering an era where information will be readily available to providers," Michael Q. Stearns said.
Michael Q. Stearns added "We are very focused on making sure that this information is accurate and protected. With an emphasis on forward-driven development, I am confident will continue to succeed in this arena."

Electronic health record vendor and its users playing an active role in shaping the future of health IT.

AUSTIN, Texas, /PRNewswire/ -- , an industry leader in the development and implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) and practice management (PM) solutions, is asserting its voice and issue authority as public policy shapes the future of health information technology. In recent months, executive leadership and clients/users have engaged multiple organizations by testifying in Washington, D.C. on critical issues currently facing the industry.

Michael Q. Stearns, MD President and CEO,

Michael Q. Stearns, MD testified on February 25th before the Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy Committee Adoption and Certification Workgroup on patient safety in health information technology. Michael Q. Stearns, MD was chosen to testify on behalf of the HIMSS Electronic Health Records Association. He responded to several questions presented by the workgroup, which will be advising the full HIT Policy Committee on issues related to patient safety.

"We are committed to working cooperatively with key stakeholders to address and resolve questions and issues associated with the safe use of EHRs and other healthcare IT. We have already initiated work within the association to begin to address these issues across a broad set of vendors who serve this market. Recognize that our industry requires that a comprehensive set of principles will help insure patient safety and manage risks after our solutions go to market. Our members have long had quality management processes in place, and we'll be sharing these best practices within our membership to insure that we are aligned on a strong baseline process." – CEO and President Michael Q. Stearns, MD testimony before the HIT Policy Committee Adoption and Certification Workgroup on patient safety in health information technology.

" was honored to have been invited to testify before HIT Policy Committee workgroups on e-Prescribing, HIT Safety, and meaningful use. This is part of our ongoing efforts to contribute to a broad spectrum of evolving HIT policy and standards initiatives," stated Michael Q. Stearns, MD.

Chuck Frederick, Vice President of Clinical Applications,

Mr. Frederick testified on January 25th before the HIT Policy Committee Information Exchange Workgroup on E-Prescribing. He shared with the workgroup ' view of the Meaningful Use criteria related to e-prescribing.

" feels that the current requirements for e-prescribing related to meaningful use in 2011–Stage 1 – are a realistic and practical compromise for providers. There is no doubt that our clients would like to see more functionality rather than less but taking a pragmatic view we also know that these frontline providers cannot be overburdened with more technology than they can easily transition to." – Vice President Chuck Frederick testimony before HIT Policy Committee Information Exchange Workgroup on E-Prescribing

Maria Rudolph, Vice President of Medical Informatics and Government Relations,

Ms. Rudolph testified on March 8th before the HIT Standards Committee Implementation Workgroup on lessons & resources to accelerate adoption of electronic health records. She focused on implementation experience and the company's plan to advance customers from purchasers to meaningful users of EHRs.

"We believe in education of both our existing customers as well as those who are beginning to look at adopting EHR and have developed a multi-pronged outreach program that includes hosted webinars, website collateral and outreach to clinician stakeholders that are active in EHR adoption activities, such as the AAFP and ACP." – Vice President Maria Rudolph testimony before the HIT Standards Committee Implementation Workgroup at the Hearing on Implementation Starter Kit: Lessons & Resources to Accelerate Adoption

Dr. Jen Brull, user

Dr. Brull also testified on March 8th before the HIT Standards Committee Implementation Workgroup on lessons & resources to accelerate adoption of electronic health records. Dr. Brull spoke on her practice's implementation experience, the support she has received from , and potential barriers outside of her control that might prevent meaningful use.

"We were very successful in our implementation, retaining all staff through the transition and converting to a paperless system within a year of initiating the process. We utilized a step‐wise implementation that allowed staff to learn at their own pace and did not require a drop in patient volume in our office. We have recouped our start up costs and seen an increase in revenue since 2008. I do not foresee any barriers within my office that will prevent meaningful use, however, I am very concerned about challenges that lie outside of my control." –Dr. Jen Brull, Family Medicine Physician, Plainville, KS testimony before the HIT Standards Committee Implementation Workgroup at the Hearing on Implementation Starter Kit: Lessons & Resources to Accelerate Adoption