electronic prescribing and health information technology: the environmental landscape the role of...

Electronic Prescribing and Health Information Technology:The Environmental Landscape

The Role of Consumers

SOS Rx Coalition MeetingNational Consumers League

Washington, D.C.

Janet M. MarchibrodaChief Executive Officer, eHealth Initiative

Executive Director, Foundation for eHealth InitiativeExecutive Director, Connecting for Health

June 30, 2004

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What Problems are We Trying to Solve?

Looming Healthcare Crisis

Changing demographics: Americans age 65+ will increase from 12% of population in 1997 to 20% of population in 2003

Rising healthcare costs: Premiums increased 12.7% at the beginning of 2002 and are likely to be higher this year

Physicians leaving practice; shortfall of 400,000 nurses nationwide

Number of uninsured approx. 15.8% or 44 million of U.S.

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What Problems are We Trying to Solve? Quality and Safety Challenges

Between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die in hospitals each year as a result of medical errors…the cost is approximately $37.6 billlion annually

Estimated 770,000 people are injured each year due to adverse drug events. Inadequate availability of patient information is directly associated with 18%

Adverse drug events in 5% to 18% of ambulatory patients In a 2001 Robert Wood Johnson survey, 95% of doctors,

89% of nurses and 82% of health care executives say they have witnessed serious medical errors

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What Problems are We Trying to Solve? Big Gap Between “What we Know” and “What We

Do” American adults, on average, receive only 54.9% of the

healthcare recommended for their conditions Nearly one-third of patients with congestive heart failure

are discharged from the hospital without being given ACE inhibitors, even though it’s been known for a decade that these drugs provide life-saving benefits

Takes about 17 years for new knowledge in clinical trials to be incorporated into every data medical practice

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What Problems are We Trying to Solve?

Public Health Threats Continue Traditionally, public health surveillance has been

conducted manually, by phone fax and mail The SARS outbreak highlights gaps and weaknesses in

ability to perform disease surveillance and protect the public from natural diseases as well as potential bioterror threats

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Patient Perspectives Our healthcare system is fragmented….care is

delivered by a variety of independent physicians, hospitals and other providers

We interact with many plans and providers over a lifetime making continuity of our personal health information a challenge

Clinicians sometimes provide care without knowing what has been done previously and by whom…which can lead to treatments that may be redundant, ineffective or even dangerous

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Patient Perspectives

Vital data sit in paper-based records that can neither be accessed easily nor combined into an integrated form to present a clear and complete picture of our care

Our paper hospital records are unavailable when needed about one-third of the time

Physicians spend an estimated 20-30% of their time searching for and organizing information

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Why Information Technology Matters

It Improves Quality and Saves Lives Center for Information Technology Leadership recent

study indicates prevention of more than 2 million adverse drug events and 190,000 hospitalizations per year could be realized from adoption of CPOE in the ambulatory care environment.

Computerized physician order entry reduced error rates by 55%--from 10.7 to 4.9 per 1,000 patient days and reduced serious medication errors by 88% at Brigham &Womens Hospital

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It Makes it Easier to Navigate the Healthcare System Scheduling appointments, handling quick questions and

refilling prescriptions online saves time and headaches Having access to one’s comprehensive health

information (lab results, pharmacy, etc.) helps patients and their clinicians keep better track of care

Accessing educational information about conditions prior to coming in for visits enables more quality time between the patient and the clinician

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It Saves Money CITL study indicates $44 billion in savings per year could

be realized from adoption of CPOE in the ambulatory care environment.

CITL also released research findings that indicate that standardized healthcare information exchange among healthcare IT systems would deliver national savings of $86.8 billion annually after full implementation and would result in significant direct financial benefits for providers and other stakeholders

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It Saves Money

A recent cost benefit analysis of electronic medical record systems showed that their use by primary care providers could result in $86,000 in savings over five years. Benefits include reduced drug spending, reductions in radiology, and decreased billing errors.

Kaiser Permanente study found that when physicians used a computerized system, the average time spent in the unit dropped by 4.9 days to 2.7, slashing costs by 25%

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Increasing Demand from Consumers

A Harris consumer interactive poll found that:

80% want personalized medical information on-line from their physicians

69% want on-line charts fir tracking chronic conditions

83% want to receive their lab tests on-line

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Clinicians receiving computerized patient symptom assessments prior to a patient visit addressed 51% of their patients symptoms, compared with only 19% of those not receiving assessments

63% of consumers in a February 2004 survey agreed it would be “very valuable” to have their complete medical history stored in one computer file that can be accessed anywhere in the hospital

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Foundation for Accountability Survey for Connecting for Health

In response to question: “if you could keep your medical records online, what would you do?”

Email doctor – 75%Store immunization records – 69%Transfer information to specialist – 65%Look-up test results – 63%Track medication use – 62%

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Despite Evidence Adoption Rates Low More than 90 percent of the estimated 30 billion health transactions

each year are conducted by phone, fax or mail

Healthcare lags behind all industries when it comes to spending on IT. While 11.10%, 8.10% and 6.5% of revenues were invested in IT in the financial services, insurance and consumer services industries, respectively in 2002, only 2.2% of healthcare industry revenues were spent on IT

Only a third of hospitals nationwide have computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems completely or partially available. Of those, only 4.9% require their use.

Fewer than 5% of U.S. physicians prescribe medications electronically

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Barriers to Adoption of Information Technology

Leadership - Within the public and private sectors…at the national level, at the community level, within provider institutions and clinician practices

Funding and a Business Model - Misalignment of incentives among those who pay for IT and those who benefit from it. The need for upfront funding and a sustainable business model to support investment

Standards – The lack of interoperability and standards to support mobilization of information and connectivity across systems

Organizational and Work-Flow Change – Migrating to an electronic system is difficult

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eHealth Initiative Purpose

eHealth Initiative was formed to clear barriers to the adoption of information technology and a health information infrastructure to drive improvements in quality, safety and efficiency for patients…focusing on:

Leadership Financing and Business Model Standards Organizational and Work-Flow Change

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eHealth Initiative Mission and Vision

Our Mission: Drive improvement in the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology

Our Vision: Consumers, providers and those responsible for population health will have ready access to timely, relevant, reliable and secure health care information and services through an interconnected, electronic health information infrastructure to promote better health and healthcar

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eHealth Initiative’s Members Health care information technology suppliers Health systems and hospitals Health plans Employers and purchasers Non-profit organizations and professional societies Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers Practicing clinician organizations Public health organizations Research and academic institutions

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A Number of Policy Changes are Emerging

There is Rapidly Increasing Momentum for the Use of IT in Healthcare to Address These Challenges

Congress Administration Private Sector

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IT Provisions in Medicare Modernization Act Electronic Prescription Program

Establishes a real-time electronic prescribing program for all physicians, pharmacies, and pharmacists who serve Medicare beneficiaries with Part D benefits

Requires following electronic information: drug being prescribed, patient’s medication history, drug interactions, dosage checking, and therapeutic alternatives

Requires DHHS to develop, adopt, recognize or modify initial uniform standards for e-prescribing

Establishes a safe harbor from penalties under the Medicare anti-kickback statute

Provides that these standards will pre-empt state law or regulation that are contrary to or restrict the ability to carry out the electronic prescribing program

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IT Provisions in Medicare Modernization Act

Grants to Physicians

Authorizes Secretary to make grants to physicians to defray costs of purchasing, leasing, installing software and hardware; making upgrades to enable eRx; and providing education and training

Requires 50% matching rate Authorizes appropriation of $50 million for grants

in FY 2007 and such sums as necessary for fiscal years 2008 and 2009

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IT Provisions in Medicare Modernization ActPayment Demonstrations

Pay for performance demonstration program with physicians to meet needs of beneficiaries through adoption and use of IT and evidence based outcomes measures

Four demonstration sites – carried over three yearsHHS Secretary shall pay a per beneficiary amount

to each participating physician who meets or exceeds specific performance standards regarding clinical quality and outcomes

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IT Provisions in Medicare Modernization Act

Chronic Care Improvement Provides for phased-in development, testing, implementation

and evaluation by randomized control trials of chronic care improvement programs by HHS Secretary

HHS Secretary will enter into an agreement with chronic care improvement organizations within 12 months

Required elements of a chronic care improvement plan includes the use of monitoring technologies that enable patient guidance through the use of decision support tools and the development of a clinical information database to track and monitor each participant across settings and evaluate outcomes

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Other Legislation Related to IT National Health Information Infrastructure Act

Sponsor: Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) Within six months, NHII Officer (in cooperation with key

stakeholders named in the Act) to develop an NHII strategic plan including public sector and private sector activities.

Within one year, NHII strategic plan submitted to Congress (also includes information on progress on interface recommendations, standards recommendations and required assessments).

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Other Legislation Related to IT Health Information for Quality Improvement Act (S. 2003)

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Within six months, Office of NHII within Office of DHHS

Secretary Within two years, Secretary shall adopt a set of voluntary national

data and communication standards to promote interoperability Within 12 months, Secretary shall submit to Congress

comprehensive NHII strategic plan Grants to hospitals and other healthcare providers DHHS, DoD and VA through e-gov initiative shall develop,

implement and evaluate procedures to enable patients to access and append personal health data through personal health records

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Other Legislation Related to IT

Health Care Quality Modernization, Cost Reduction and Quality Improvement Act

Sponsor – Senator Edward M. Kennedy Introduced May 13, 2004 Provides grants or cooperative agreements for clinical

informatics systems – requires matching funds Establishes a revolving loan fund for IT acquisition Requires technical standards by January 1, 2006

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Other Legislation Related to IT Health Care Quality Modernization, Cost Reduction and Quality

Improvement Act Mandates increase in federal health program reimbursement to

any provider that operates a qualified clinical informatics system, consistent with the standards and to those that carry out quality improvement activities. Increases begin in 2005 and are equal to 1% of reimbursement involved and proceed until 2009, when the increases are equal to .2% of reimbursements involved.

Mandates decrease in federal health program reimbursement to any provider UNLESS they operate a qualified clinical informatics system, consistent with the promulgated technical standards and to those that carry out quality improvement activities. Decreases begin in 2010 and are equal to .2% reimbursement involved and proceed until 2014, when the increases are equal to 1% of reimbursements involved.

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Other Legislation Related to IT

Senate HELP Committee Chair Gregg announced plans on April 27, 2004 to introduce bipartisan legislation to carry out Bush’s call for electronic health records for all patients within a decade

Federal leadership Information standards Clear barriers Provide needed incentives

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Recognized Importance at Presidential Level

“By computerizing health records, we can avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs and improve care”

President George W. Bush - State of the Union Address, January 20, 2004

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President Bush’s 10-Year Plan for EHR

April 26, 2004 President George W. Bush Announces 10-Year Plan to Assure that Most Americans Have Electronic Health Records:

Within the next ten years, electronic health records will ensure that complete health information is available for most Americans at the time and place of care, no matter where it originates. Participation by patients will be voluntary.

These electronic health records will be designed to share information privately and securely among and between healthcare providers when authorized by the patient.

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President Bush’s 10-Year HIT Plan

Creation of new, sub-Cabinet level post reporting to DHHS Secretary – National Health Information Technology Coordinator

The federal government to complete the identification and adoption of standards that will allow medical information to be stored and shared electronically while assuring privacy and security

Doubling funding to $100 million for demonstration projects that will help test the effectiveness of HIT and establish best practices for more widespread adoption in the healthcare industry

Creating federal incentives and opportunities which encourage healthcare providers to use electronic medical records

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President Bush’s April 27 Executive Order

Establishment within Office of the DHHS Secretary the position of National Health Information Technology Coordinator – within 90 days

Within 90 Days:

DHHS Secretary will provide options to provide incentives to promote adoption of interoperable HIT

Director OPM will provide options to provide incentives to promote adoption of interoperable HIT

Secretary of VA and DoD will jointly report on approaches to to work more actively with private sector to make systems available as affordable option for providers in rural and medically underserved communities

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Policy consistent with vision of nation-wide interoperable HIT infrastructure that:

Ensures appropriate information to guide medical decisions at time and place of care

Improves quality, reduces errors and advances delivery of evidence-based care and reduces healthcare costs

Promotes a more effective marketplace, greater competition and increased choice

Improves coordination of care through secure and authorized exchange of healthcare information

Ensures patients’ individually identifiable health information is secure and protected

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Responsibilities of National HIT Coordinator Develop, maintain, and direct implementation of strategic plan in

both public and private sectors Advance the development, adoption and implementation of

standards through collaboration of public and private sector interests Ensure key technical, scientific, economic issues affecting adoption

are addressed Evaluate benefits on evidence and costs and to whom they accrue Address privacy and security issues and recommend methods to

ensure appropriate authorization, authentication and encryption for transmission over Internet

Not assume or rely upon additional Federal resources or spending to accomplish adoption

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Secretary Thompson May 6 Announcements

Summit of 100 leaders in healthcare

Announced David Brailer, MD, PhD as National Health Information Technology Coordinator

HHS and other federal agencies will adopt 15 additional standards agreed to by Consolidated Health Informatics Initiative

SNOMED now available for free use from National Library of Medicine web site

HL7 announced a favorable vote on a functional model and standards for an electronic health record

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Emerging Focus Areas Incentives to encourage adoption

Electronic prescribing as a key building block

Stark exception

Certification of standards

Supporting clinicians with implementation

Health information exchange networks privately operated for secure data exchange and transport

State, regional or local health information exchange authorities to assure compliance with laws

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A Bi-Partisan Issue…

Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry has several provisions related to information technology in his agenda...

Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Newt Gingrich joined together for May 3 NYT Op-Ed Piece and conference in RI

Considerable support by Sen. Clinton, Sen. Dodd, Sen. Kennedy and Rep. Kennedy

A Bi-Partisan Issue……

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Momentum Building in Administration

AHRQ $50 million HIT Program…planning and implementation grants with emphasis on multi-stakeholder involvement and matched funding…large rural component…also $10 million focused on evaluating value…

Additional $50 million for demonstration projects proposed for FY 05 in DHHS Secretary’s budget

AHRQ’s State and Regional HIT Demonstrations Program seeks to identify and support statewide data sharing and interoperability activities aimed at improving quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare

DoD and Department of Veterans Affairs playing a critical leadership role in demonstrating feasibility and value of HIT

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CMS launching four demonstration programs “DOQ-IT” to test incentives for quality outcomes and use of IT

CMS published Phase II of regulations to implement the Stark Law – creates new exceptions including “provision of community-wide health information services”.

President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee launches Health Subcommittee and issues report

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CMS releases “Chronic Care Improvement Program Notice and Application”

Ten geographic areas in which in the aggregate at least 10% of the Medicare FFS population resides

Medicare beneficiaries eligible are those that are entitled to benefits under Part A, are enrolled under Part B, but not enrolled in a plan under Part C and those that have congestive heart failure and/or complex diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Enormous opportunity to merge HIT goals

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CDC PHIN Program promotes integration and use of standards and leveraging data that already resides in the system – e.g. Biosense - $130 million in proposed FY 05 budget

NCVHS – several work groups focusing on these issues…Subcommittee on Standards and Security, Subcommittee on Privacy and Security, Work Group on the NHII

Considerable work within the DoD and the VA

Council for the Application of Health Information Technology (CAHIT) – DHHS interagency IT coordinating body launched by Secretary Thompson

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Momentum Building in Private Sector HL7 developed functional model for electronic health

record… ballot has passed

IOM issued report on patient safety data standards in Fall of 2003

A number of payment pilots and other incentive programs emerging from employer and plan communities, including Bridges to Excellence

Leapfrog Group announces Fourth Leap – comprehensive scoring survey to help patients rank hospital quality

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eHealth Initiative Focus for 2004: Overview

In our early years, we focused on raising general awareness of the need for IT and tackling one of the key barriers to adoption— data standards

In 2004, we will:

Expand our work on two other areas that will help to achieve our mission: “making the business case and securing financing” and “developing the field” in key challenge areas…

Continue to focus on data standards

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eHealth Initiative Focus for 2004 Align incentives and promote public and private sector investment in

improving America’s healthcare through IT and an electronic health information infrastructure Drive investment in research related to the value of IT in

addressing quality, safety and efficiency challenges Fund strategic demonstration projects through Connecting

Communities for Better Health that evaluate and demonstrate impact of IT and further development of strategies and tools for accelerating IT adoption and electronic connectivity

Develop and promote policy options to align incentives and enable public and private sector investment in IT and health information infrastructure

Dramatically increase national awareness of the role of IT in addressing healthcare challenges through the Investing in America’s Health campaign

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eHealth Initiative Focus for 2004 Develop the field to enable more widespread and effective

implementation of IT and an electronic health information infrastructure Engage national experts to aggregate and develop knowledge,

resources and tools for key challenge areas related to IT and a health information infrastructure

Provide resources and tools to help communities and stakeholders implement IT and a health information infrastructure through the Connecting Communities for Better Health Learning Network and Resource Center and several meetings including Community Learning Forum in June

Expand information sharing beyond the U.S. by facilitating a global dialogue on the challenges and strategies for implementing an electronic health information infrastructure through the Leadership in Global Health Technology Initiative

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eHealth Initiative Focus for 2004

Continue to drive adoption of standards to promote an interoperable, interconnected healthcare system through work with key partners

Leverage the work of the Connecting for Health, a public-private sector collaboration funded the Markle and Robert Wood Johnson Foundations, that is developing an incremental roadmap for U.S. electronic health information infrastructure, and addressing key issue areas such as data standards; organization and sustainability; linking patient data; and the personal health record

Through the EHR Collaborative, a coalition made up of AHIMA, AMA, AMIA, CHIME, eHI, HIMSS and NAHIT, facilitate collaboration among HIT organizations to achieve common goals related to the adoption of standards

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Our Approach

Review, Evaluate &

DevelopModels

EngageThose Who Can Effect

Change

Educate andAdvocate

ForChange

Provide Resources and Tools

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Areas of Interest

Areas Critical to IT and Health Information Infrastructure

Upfront Funding and Sustainable Incentive Models Technical (Architecture, Standards, Security) Protecting Patient Privacy Clinician Adoption and Clinical Process Change Application of Clinical Knowledge Organization and Governance Legal Issues Engaging Patients and Consumers

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FINANCING(Incentives, Funding)

PRIVACY

CLINICIAN ADOPTION AND PROCESS CHANGE

LEGAL(Data Use, Stark Issues)

AGGREGATE AND DEVELOP

KNOWLEDGE IN KEY ISSUE AREAS

VET WITH AND DISSEMINATE

TO STAKEHOLDERS

Operating Model

CLINICIANS

HOSPITALS ANDOTHER PROVIDERS

HEALTHCARE ITPHARMA AND DEVICE MFR

PUBLIC HEALTH

PAYERSEMPLOYERS, PURCHASERS

PATIENTS, CONSUMERS

CLINICAL KNOWLEDGECHRONIC CARE

TECHNICAL (STDS, SECURITY, ARCHITECTURE)

PRIMARYDISSEMINATION

VEHICLES

ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER

PUBLICATIONS

TARGETED BRIEFINGS

FACE TO FACE CONFERENCES

VIDEO, WEB, PHONECONFERENCES

POLICY-MAKERS

MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

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Connecting Communities for Better Health

Goal is to catalyze activities on a national, regional, and local basis that will lay the foundation for electronic connectivity and a health information infrastructure

Funded under Foundation for eHealth Initiative cooperative agreement with HRSA - $3.9 million in year one, $2.9 million in year two…augmenting funding through other contributions and grants

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Connecting Communities for Better Health Provide seed funding to multi-stakeholder collaboratives within

communities that are using electronic health information exchange and other IT tools to drive improvements in healthcare, with the goal of evaluating and widely disseminating lessons learned

Gaining critical input from experts, “on-the-ground implementers”, and key stakeholders on key areas related to health information exchange: technical, organizational, financial and clinical

Through Community Learning Network and Online Resource Center, provide communities and other healthcare stakeholders interested in health information exchange with guidance on how to plan and implement IT and health information exchange programs designed to mobilize healthcare information across organizations to drive improvements in health and healthcare

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Connecting Communities for Better Health Through Community Learning Forum and Resource

Exhibition, and a wide range of video, audio and other meetings and conferences, provide those interested in health information exchange with guidance on how to plan and implement IT and health information exchange programs that will mobilize healthcare information across organizations to drive improvements in health and healthcare

Creating and widely publicizing a pool of “electronic health information exchange-ready” communities to facilitate interest and public and private sector investment in such initiatives

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Connecting Communities for Better Health

Building national awareness among policy-makers, healthcare leaders, and other drivers of change, regarding the feasibility and value of health information exchange, the key barriers that need to be overcome, and the strategies and policies that need to be deployed to overcome those barriers and support wider diffusion

Collaborating and aligning with related activities both within the public and private sectors

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Those Engaged in Health Information Exchange* California

Indiana

Massachusetts

North Carolina

Rhode Island

Utah

Washington

*Sample

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Those Exploring Health Information Exchange* Delaware

Florida

Maryland/Washington, D.C.

New York

Ohio

Tennessee

*Sample

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Response to Request for Capabilities What We Asked For in our 2003 Request for Capabilities

Statements:

Multi-stakeholder initiatives involving at least three stakeholder groups

Matched funding Use of standards and a clinical component

What We Received:

134 responses representing 42 states and the District of Columbia proposing collaborative health information exchange projects across the country

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Organization Types Involvement

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Per

cent

age

of R

espo

nden

ts

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Functions Provided

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

60

Data Types Involved

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Dat

a Ty

pes

(%)

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Communities to be Funded

To be announced on July 21, 2004 as part of DHHS Event

Strategically focused on critical areas that need to be addressed to implement health information exchange

Replicable and sustainable technical architecture models Alignment of incentive models Use of replicable data exchange standards Addressing ways to accurately link patient data Multi-jurisdictional models Electronic prescribing issues

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Connecting Communities Learning Network

Key partnering organizations

Center for Information Technology Leadership – Partners Healthcare System – John Glaser, PhD; Blackford Middleton, MD

Regenstrief Institute – J. Marc Overhage, MD, PhD Others in the process of being finalized

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Connecting Communities Learning Forum

June 24 – 25, 2004, Washington, D.C.

Practical, hands-on, interactive meeting designed to help communities implement IT and health information exchange

Very few general sessions, mostly break-outs led by the best in the field in each targeted area

Tackled key issues related to health information exchange: technical, clinical, financial, organizational, legal

Laid the groundwork for “a community of communities” to learn from experts and each other…..

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Electronic Prescribing Initiative - Goals

Rapidly expand the adoption of electronic prescribing to drive quality, safety and efficiency improvements

Develop and promote design and implementation guidelines and principles that:

Facilitate rapid development of usable, implementable, high value prescribing tools

Support workflow of clinicians Support safety and optimal care

Develop and promote adoption of incentives to accelerate adoption

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Electronic Prescribing Initiative

More than 70 of the nation’s leading experts on electronic prescribing from every stakeholder group involved in or impacted by the prescribing chain – Co-Chair Jonathan Teich, MD, PhD

Got consensus amongst a diverse group regarding key principles

Three Groups….

Steering Group Incentives Working Group Design and Implementation Working Group

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Electronic Prescribing Initiative Connectivity providers

Hospitals and other healthcare organizations

Health plans, employers and third party payers

Healthcare IT suppliers

Patient and consumer groups

Pharmacies

Pharmaceutical manufacturers

Patient and consumer groups

Pharmacy benefit managers

Practicing clinicians

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Electronic Prescribing Initiative – Take-aways Ambulatory errors are common and preventable

Electronic prescribing can address quality, safety and efficiency challenges

Making the transition is difficult

The design and implementation recommendations presented today can help…immensely

Everyone must play a part…incentives are critical to assist with transition

The timing could not be more important, given the upcoming implementation of the Medicare Modernization Act

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Electronic Prescribing Initiative Recommendations Levels of electronic prescribing and benefits that accrue at each

level

Current barriers to physician adoption

Recommendations

Usability for prescriber Clinical decision support Communication Standards and Vocabularies Implementation

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Connecting for Health Connecting for Health was created in September 2002 to

catalyze the creation of an information technology infrastructure in healthcare. It has the following strategic objectives:1. Put the need for interoperability and information mobility at the

forefront of the public policy agenda related to IT2. Secure a patient role in the IT agenda by defining and

establishing a role for them to access and control their own health information

3. Engage a broad level of public and private sector collaboration and leadership behind this agenda

Funded and led by Markle Foundation with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

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Connecting for Health Assumptions

A health information network is worthwhile, provides value and is the basis for future high quality care delivery

It can only be accomplished by “dynamic connectivity” that allows information to move when its needed to the place that its needed at the time it is needed in a private and secure manner

Achieving this goal will require public and private sector collaboration

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Connecting for Health Phase I Accomplishments

Built consensus on an initial set of data standards that are “adoption-ready”

High-level overview of value proposition for interoperability and a migration framework to get there

Identified and communicated examples of privacy and security-related “noteworthy practices” to support organizations across the health care system with examples of what others have done.

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Defined the high-level characteristics of personal health record and studied consumer attitudes and concerns

Launched a public-private sector national demonstration project to highlight both the feasibility and value of an electronic, standards-based data interchange—the Healthcare Collaborative Network

A “call to action” from the Connecting for Health Steering Group regarding key steps related to moving towards an interoperable health care system

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Leadership and commitment demonstrated by Steering Group members and Connecting for Health organizations to drive implementation of data standards and an interoperable health care system

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Connecting for Health Deliverables

Incremental “Roadmap” or “shared path” for achieving electronic connectivity– near-term actions the public and private sectors can get behind – first draft to be released in July 2004

Working Group Recommendations – to be released July – Sept 04

Technical Architecture, Incremental Applications, and Data Standards including Security Standards

Accurately Linking Patient Information Organizational and Sustainability Models for Community-

Based Health Information Exchange Policies for Electronic Information Sharing between Clinicians

and Patients

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The Role of the Consumer

Our vision is about putting the patient in the center and mobilizing information in a patient-centric way to support the health and healthcare of patients

Currently there is a gap between consumer perception of reality in the healthcare system and reality itself

A thoughtful, carefully executed awareness campaign targeted to consumers is needed to increase understanding of the role of HIT in healthcare (why do we care?) and to stimulate demand for actions that will improve quality, improve safety and increase efficiency

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The Role of the Consumer The consumer’s role is critical and the role of consumer organizations

is critical to moving us towards a safer, higher quality healthcare system

How you can help

Convert the language we ordinarily use to describe why this is important, to language that is easy to understand by consumers…leverage the work of Connecting for Health…report to be released in July 2004

Develop and implement a communications strategy that will help “take these messages to America”

Leverage the insights and expertise of all of the stakeholders in the system…the voice of clinicians is especially important

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What Does All of this Mean?

“Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

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Closing

We are finally building momentum…the “stars and planets are aligning” which is due to leadership in public and private sectors

The focus has shifted from “whether we should” to “how will we do this?”

This work will create lasting and significant changes in the U.S. healthcare system…how clinicians practice…how hospitals operate….how healthcare gets paid for…how patients manage their health and navigate our healthcare system

electronic prescribing and health information technology: the environmental landscape the role of...

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