Allergy Testing Could Pinpoint What Ails You

Amy Dane and daughter, Shyla, with the allergist

After repeated trips to her family doctor and outpatient clinics, Patricia Turner decided to take matters into her own hands and get tested for seasonal allergies.

Turner, who’d started having symptoms last spring, was tired of the inconvenience and of people around her thinking she had some kind of bug.

“You’re sneezing and coughing, and people are like, ‘Oh, my gosh, you’ve got the flu or something,’ ” said Turner, 48, of Louisville.

Skin testing helped to determine that allergies to pollen, as well as other things, were indeed contributing to Turner’s symptoms, so she’s now receiving allergy shots at Family Allergy & Asthma in Louisville.

Dr. Mark Corbett, who practices at Allergy Care of Kentucky, said he recommends testing “if you really want to confirm what your allergens are and indeed (that) that’s what’s really going on.”

If you’re taking medication that doesn’t seem to be working or you would like to find a way to cut back on your medications, testing might be recommended as well, said Corbett, past chair of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.

Both adults and children can be tested, and in some cases, it leads to treatment that prevents patients’ health from worsening, said Dr. Stephen J. Pollard, a Louisville allergist and researcher who’s the co-founder of Family Allergy & Asthma. For example, after being tested, a child may be put on allergy shots (immunotherapy) to halt the progression from rhinitis, or inflammation of the mucous membranes, to asthma.

“Every asthmatic should be tested” for allergies, Pollard said.

People who think they have allergies and have now started to develop complications, such as sinus infections and ear infections, are good candidates as well, Pollard said.

A common form of skin testing, sometimes called the prick-puncture test, is conducted by making a series of small pricks on the back to expose the patient to trace amounts of allergens, such as pollen, mold and dust mites.

Corbett likens it to “taking a toothpick and just poking on your back a little bit,” then waiting about 15 minutes to see if the skin reacts.

MedX12 employee, Amy Dane, recently took her 6 month old daughter, Shyla, to an allergist for this same testing and found out she was allergic to several things which were causing her to show various symptoms. “It is definitely a good idea to get tested,” Dane said. “It might be the only way to diagnose what is wrong with you or your loved one.”

Central Florida Physician Alliance Endorses MedX12’s Noteworthy Product Suite

Louisville, KY   — August 20, 2010 — Central Florida Physician Alliance (CFPA) has sponsored MedX12’s Noteworthy Medical Systems product suite, which includes an electronic health record (EHR), practice management system (PM) and Connected Care Hub.  CFPA is a non-profit organization that has a network of 240+ independent physicians in central Florida.  Executive Director, Ken Emmitt, recently visited MedX12’s headquarters in Louisville, KY.

“After visiting the organization and meeting the team of MedX12, I am truly impressed with the products they provide as well as the customer service and support they give.  I am excited about the opportunity to work with this team as we move forward in this new area of technology,” said Ken Emmett.

“This is a very exciting opportunity to showcase our products and services to an organization that is vested in the success of its members,” said Mike Sostarich, COO of MedX12. 

MedX12 and CFPA will begin immediately working on establishing a core group to adopt technology and set the stage for CFPA to become a clinically integrated organization.

About MedX12

MedX12 is a healthcare software service provider following a mission that takes the pain out of administration for hospitals, physician practices and other healthcare exchanges, lowering the costs of healthcare and improving the patient experience.  The company delivers practice management, electronic health records, electronic prescriptions to practices, and connectivity to hospitals, labs, radiology, pharmacies, and other healthcare institutions.  These products, powered by Noteworthy Medical Systems, Inc., are guaranteed to meet requirements for ARRA reimbursement of $44,000 to $64,000 to physicians.  For more information, call 877-367-6339 or visit www.medx12.com.

About Central Florida Physicians Alliance

The Central Florida Physicians Alliance is a not-for-profit Independent Physicians Alliance.

The Mission of Central Florida Physicians Alliance is to promote high-quality, innovative and patient-focused health care.

Our Pledge is to work together with all caregivers to preserve the traditional physician-patient relationship and to serve all patients with dignity, concern and compassion.

Central Florida Physicians Alliance’s comprehensive network of doctors offers a variety of services for your convenience:

• Physicians representing a wide-range of specialties.
• Convenient office hours, including walk-in clinics.
• Multiple, independent physician offices located throughout Central Florida. 
• Total family care.

Central Florida Physicians Alliance physicians accept multiple insurance plans. For details patients should call the individual physician they wish to see.   For more information call 863-647-0900 email: info@cfpalliance.com or visit www.cfpalliance.com.

Demonstration Night at MedX12 September 9, 2010 6:00 PM

Please join us for a demonstration night sponsored by MedX12 and Greater Louisville Professional Services (a Greater Louisville Medical Society company.)  Skilled demonstrations of NetPractice EHR and NetPractice Practice Management systems.  Drinks and appetizers provided.

Seating is limited.  Please call (502) 339-7175 ext. 221 to reserve yours today.

Benefits of a “true” e-Prescribing System

E-Prescribing is more than just sending a prescription to a pharmacy electronically.  It is the tools involved in the e-Prescribing process that can increase the quality of care and save money for all stakeholders involved in our healthcare system.  Since gaining popularity in 2003, numerous studies have been conducted on the benefits of “true” e-Prescribing.   

So, what is “true” e-Prescribing?  A “true” e-Prescribing system is interfaced with a practice’s practice management (PM) and/or electronic health record (EHR.)  The interface supplies the pertinent patient information into the e-Prescribing system, including insurance information.  Lack of an interface will actually create more of a prescribing work flow for the clinician’s office, instead of eliminating workflow in an interfaced e-Prescribing system.

A “true” e-Prescribing system will have several medication tools for the clinician to utilize, such as the following:

• Electronic Medications:  The ability to route a prescription to a pharmacy electronically.  Benefits:  Legible and timely prescriptions from the clinician.  Medication database that is updated at least once a quarter.  The electronic script pad has several features:  dosage calculator, alerts for potential dosage, frequency and route errors and all prescriptions are automatically added to the patient’s medication list.  Not to mention, increased patient compliance with prescribed medications.
• Electronic Refill Requests:  The ability to refill a prescription electronically from a centralized refill basket in system.  Benefits:  Automation of this process saves time and money by eliminating costly chart pulls and clinical/staff time to manage a manual paper process.  An audit log is automatically kept in the “true” e-Prescribing system.  With an ASP system, refills can be worked from anywhere with an internet connection.  
• Medication History:  The ability to upload and reconcile a patient’s current medication list to the SureScripts RX Hub database.  Currently, SureScripts RX Hub receives medication information from 95% of pharmacies and pharmacy benefit (PBM) manager groups.   Benefits:  Clinicians no longer have to try to figure out what blue pill the patient is talking about.  Clinicians are able to upload history into e-Prescribing system and they are able to make informed decision of course of treatment based on the full medication history. 
• Insurance Company Formularies:  The ability to check a patient’s insurance formulary information at the time of prescribing.  Benefits:  The clinician and provider are able to make an affordable and informed decision about the course of medication treatment.  Also, formularies increase the prescribing of generic medications, which saves the patient and insurance company money.  The pharmacy will no longer have to investigate a formulary issue on behalf of a patient when the medication prescribed is too expensive.
• Drug-to-Drug, Drug-to-Allergy, Drug-to-Disease and Duplicate Therapy Interactions:  Clinical decision support for prescribed medications.  Clinician is alerted of possible interactions.  The clinician must acknowledge the interaction before completing the transaction.  Benefits:  Reduction of preventable Adverse Drug Effects (ADE.)  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) published a study that 770,000 injuries and deaths each year are caused by ADEs and cost hospitals alone an estimated 5.6 million dollars per year.  According to AHRQ, up to 84% of dose, route and frequency errors could be eliminated by implementing e-Prescribing.*
• Medication Audit Logs:  The ability to report the medications prescribed under a clinicians name by patient.  Benefits:  In a paper world, a clinician would stumble over a fraudulent medication written in their name by pharmacy suspicion or accident.  In an electronic world, the clinician can actually oversee everything that is being prescribed under their name. 

E-Prescribing is a beneficial if utilization of the quality and cost saving tools are utilized.  Clinicians need to know the benefits of “true” e-Prescribing systems and provider adoption is crucial.  

** Reducing and Preventing Adverse Drug Events to Decrease Hospital Costs.  Research in Action, Issue1.  AHQR Publication Number 01-0200, March 2001.  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.

Storms of Change/Choices

The diversity of healthcare technology solutions continues to expand exponentially. This growth may be credited with the increasing confusion among decision makers and stakeholders. This may be a comedic understatement to those of you who have found yourselves aghast in attempts to find a simple solution and implement it. The decisions necessary in choosing the right fit for electronic solutions can leave even the most tech-friendly physicians baffled and discouraged.

Many healthcare practices are turning to consultants for direction. While the use of consultants is not new to healthcare, one would have difficulty denying the increasing weight a consultant carries due to the combined effects of ARRA, meaningful use, and RAC audits. The business of healthcare consulting is growing rapidly, namely in the field of healthcare technology. With physicians seeking meaningful adoption of Electronic Health Records, hospitals and data service providers connecting, and software vendors scattered throughout the mix, whom should you trust? The criticality of choosing the right consultant is evident when you consider the potential impact that person may have on your practice’s compliance, financial status and longevity.

Consultants may be viewed as lighthouses in the storms of change, but are you following strong sustainable fire or just a flicker that may change to darkness and disappear when you least expect it? The flicker and the moving target are in reference to TRUST. Is there a code of ethics for a healthcare consultant? How do you know when their recommendations won’t be to choose software vendor in which they have a vested interest?

Many healthcare organizations hold years of experience with the utilization of consultants and are therefore familiar with how to navigate, making business-smart choices. The “comfort zones” may include areas like the choice of a legal representative, a CPA or recruitment services. Healthcare technology, although certainly not born yesterday, is an area of discomfort for many clinicians. It is new ground on which to tread-an exciting and fresh perspective for some, a recurring nightmare for others. The trust placed in the hands of a healthcare consultant cannot be denied, this may not be the new part. After all, the American Association of Healthcare Consultants formed in 1949. This organization promotes their mission as “Insisting upon ethical standards of performance” and “Informing the healthcare industry of these established standards.” The following was taken from http://www.aahc.net/ :

 Code of Ethics

Members of AAHC agree to adhere to the following principles:

• To exercise independence, objectivity and integrity in all professional engagements
• To maintain client confidentiality
• To strive continuously to improve their professional skills
• To fully disclose to a client any interests or relationships that may affect independent judgment in a specific engagement
• To continuously enhance the professional standards of consulting
• To fully disclose to clients in advance all financial arrangements related to an engagement
• To uphold the honor and dignity of the profession
• To maintain the highest standards of personal conduct

 Explore these topics with potential consultants and include a similar code of ethics in any contractual agreements. Be firm in emphasizing the importance of transparency regarding the consultant’s vendor relationships. This includes the disclosure of any possible financial interest in specific software solutions, sponsorship of related entities or further barriers that could prevent the practice from benefiting from a completely independent appraisal of needs. The solutions resulting from a consultant in the healthcare technology arena range from a simple electronic prescription module to full scale adoption of a complete suite of products with multiple interfaces. Your consultant should be able to educate you on the features within each system and how those capabilities match your needs.Consultants who offer unbiased solutions to a practice’s unique culture and workflow needs will leave the key stakeholders of that organization returning again and again for further consulting needs.

The stakes are high. The direction we choose now determines our potential success, whether it be continued or improved financial stability, improved patient outcomes or otherwise. The environment is changing and the automation of workflow is a continuous cycle. Individuals, organizations, and even the software vendors have choices to make. The growth and success of each of these entities will be directly related to their ability to cooperate with one another and walk through the fear of change. This does not ensure everyone will play fairly. Be sure choices are made with your best interests in mind.

Meaningful Use Final Rule Published 7-13-10

After months of waiting, federal officials released the final rule on meaningful use on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.   Eligible professionals and hospitals may qualify for thousands of dollars in stimulus money by exhibiting meaningful use of a certified EHR product.  The final rule, an 864 page document, which will be effective after 7/28/10, outlines the criteria that needs to be met in Stage 1 to qualify. 

15 core criteria eligible professionals must meet to qualify for meaningful use:

• CPOE for medication on more than 30% of unique patients must have at least one medication ordered utilizing CPOE
• Drug-to-Drug and Drug-to-Allergy interaction checks
• Generate and transmit permissible prescriptions electronically (eRX) on more than 40% of all permissible prescriptions
• Record demographics (preferred language, gender, race, ethnicity and DOB) on more than 50% of unique patients
• Maintain up-to-date problem list on more than 80% of unique patients
• Maintain active medication list on more than 80% of unique patients
• Maintain active medication allergy list on more than 80% of unique patients
• Record and chart changes in vital signs (height, weight, blood pressure, calculate and display BMI, plot and display growth charts for children 2-20 years, including BMI) for more than 50% of unique patients
• Record smoking status for patients 13 years old and older for more than 50% of unique patients that fall into that age range
• Implement 1 relevant clinical decision support tool
• Report ambulatory clinical measures to CMS or state by attestation
• Provide patients with an electronic copy of health information upon request to more than 50% of unique patients within 3 business days
• Provide clinical summaries for patients for each office visit for more than 50% of all office visits within 3 business days
• Capability to exchange key clinical information among providers of care and authorized entities electronically by performing at least 1 test of certified EHR capabilities
• Protect electronic health information created or maintained by EHR by conducting and reviewing a security risk analysis per HIPAA Security Rule

Also, 5 out of 10 core criteria from the following menu set must be met:

•  Implement Drug-to-Formulary checks
• Incorporate clinical lab test results into certified EHR as structured data on more than 40% of all order clinical labs 
• Generate lists of patients by specific condition for quality improvement, reduction of disparities, research or outreach by being able to generate 1 report listing of patients
• Send reminders to patients per patient preference for preventative / follow-up care on more than 20% of uniques patient 65 years or older and 5 years or younger
• Provide patients with timely electronic access to their health information within 4 business days of availability on more than 10% of unique patients
• Use certified EHR to identify patient-specific educational resources and provide resources to patient if appropriate on more than 10% of unique patients
• Perform medication reconciliation on patients from another care setting or patients transferring into care for more than 50% of unique patients
• Eligible professionals who transitions their patient to another care setting or refers a patient to another provider of care should provide summary of care record for more than 50% of transitions and referrals
• Capability to submit electronic data to immunization registries by performing at least 1 test of certified EHR
• Capability to submit electronic syndromic surveillance data to public health agencies by performing 1 test of certified EHR

CMS has created a website page for EHR Incentive Programs at http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/

Personally, I am pleased with the changes that the federal officials have made to the proposed rule.  I think there is enough flexibility for EPs to actually meet the criteria and receive stimulus dollars.  I am excited that our Noteworthy Medical Systems suite of products already have most the core capabilities implemented.

“Unlocking the Secrets of Meaningful Use” – Free MedX12 Educational Seminar – July 29

Please join us for an educational night sponsored by MedX12, Faulkner Healthcare Real Estate, Republic Bank and Greater Louisville Professional Services (a Greater Louisville Medical Society company.)

“Unlocking the Secrets of Meaningful Use” presented by Kathy McDonald McClure of Wyatt, Tarrant, Combs, LLP

Thursday, July 29th at 6:00 pm at Suburban Plaza 3 (4121 Dutchmans Lane)

Seating is limited – Please call (502) 339-7175 ext. 225 to reserve your seat today.

Refreshments will be provided.

Medical Society Professional Services of the Greater Louisville Medical Society, Has Endorsed MedX12

Medical Society Professional Services (MSPS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Greater Louisville Medical Society, has endorsed MedX12 and their offerings for physicians which include electronic health records (EHRs), practice management (PM), ePrescribing and a health information exchange (Hub).

Lelan K. Woodmansee, CAE, Executive Director of GLMS, indicated that, “As a web-based software service company that allows health care providers to simultaneously simplify administrative requirements and decrease expenses, MedX12 is an exceptionally valuable one-stop shop solution for our physician members.  Through careful examination, the MSPS Board of Directors identified MedX12’s services as outstanding in quality and reliability.”

About Medical Society Professional Services

Medical Society Professional Services is a wholly owned, for-profit subsidiary of the Greater Louisville Medical Society. Comprised entirely of volunteer physicians, the MSPS Board of Directors meets regularly to identify high-quality products and services that offer significant value for GLMS members.  MSPS also underwrites Vital Signs – a quarterly health and wellness reader designed for patients and written by physicians. Vital Signs is free to members in bulk for waiting rooms.

MedX12 Will Participate in The Lexington eHealth Summit

MedX12 will participate as a sponsor in a statewide event called the Lexington eHealth Summit on April 21st at the Lexington Convention Center (Thoroughbred Room), in cooperation with the Kentucky eHealth Network (KeHN).  The event will showcase successful content leaders sharing their experiences and insights in a program specifically designed to add value through the application of  “peer learning.” Peer learning has been used sucessfully in many industries, showing how to solve real-life problems collaboratively. In2Lex, a volunteer group of entrepreneurs and professionals, is promoting events around the area to get people thinking creatively.

This forum is targeted toward physicians, administrators, CIOs, practice managers, and/or other executives within healthcare’s leadership community.  Speakers include:  Dr. Steven J. Stack, Chair, Department of emergency Medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital East; Robert Steffel, President and Chief Executive Officer of HealthBridge; and Kathy Frye, Deputy Executive Director and CIO, Commonwealth of Kentucky Health and Family Services.  There will be a panel discussion on information security with Moderator Matthew Curtin, Founder and President of Interhack Corporation; Mark Dill, CISO, Cleveland Clinic; and Jon Moore, CISO, Humana.   After lunch, William Martinez, Deputy to the Special Advisor for Health IT, US Social Security Administration, will address “What Does All of This Mean to Us?”  A CIO Panel on Healthcare Analytics and a discussion on the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) is planned as the wrapup to the day’s activities.

MedX12 Appoints Two Board Members in January 2010, Steve Higdon, Partner and Executive Vice President of Business Development, Faulkner Real Estate, and Jeff Amrein, Healthcare Entrepreneur

MedX12 (www.medx12.com) has appointed two new board members.  They are:  Steven E. Higdon, Partner and Executive Vice President of Business Development, Faulkner Real Estate, and  Jeff Amrein, healthcare consultant, software inventor, and entrepreneur.

Amrein has founded and served three technology companies as CEO including Advanced Imaging Concepts, Inc. which was sold in 2003 to a public company.  He has received various awards for his leadership and inventions, including Ernst & Young Regional “Entrepreneur of the Year”, the Techno-vision Award for Innovation and recognition from Business First of Louisville as “40 under 40” for distinguished entrepreneurs under 40 years of age

Higdon is responsible for marketing, business development and acquisitions at Faulkner Real Estate.  He runs one of the region’s largest  medical office developers. Prior to joining Faulkner, Steve worked at Greater Louisville Inc., the Metro Chamber of Commerce, for eight years–the last six as president and chief executive officer. Under Steve’s leadership, GLI was instrumental in a number of important community initiatives, including the successful campaign in 2000 to merge Louisville and Jefferson County governments; the attraction of the UPS $1.2 billion Worldport hub expansion; and the creation of Every 1 Reads, America’s most aggressive literacy initiative aimed at having all 98,000 Jefferson County public school children reading at grade level by 2008. Prior to GLI, Higdon worked for United Parcel Service Airlines for eight years, serving in many different capacities, including economic development manager, passenger service sales and marketing manager, and air cargo marketing manager. He graduated with honors from the University of Kentucky, where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.