The term ‘Connected Health’ describes a healthcare delivery model that employs the newest technology and empowers physicians to provide healthcare remotely. The concept of Connected Health will enable healthcare providers to make the most of available resources, and to give patients a number of new, increasingly flexible ways to interact with doctors and other healthcare professionals. It will also empower patients by giving them increased control over their own medical care.

Connected Health includes the use of programs in remote/home care, lifestyle/disease management and telehealth services. These resources can greatly improve care for chronically ill patients, simply by employing the use of widely available consumer technologies. This is especially true in the United States and the European Union, as these markets enjoy a higher availability of Internet and telephone service than many other parts of the world.

Other services Connected Health can provide include web-based second opinions for patients, monitoring programs for elderly patients and fitness coaching for general wellness. Flexibility is core to the Connected Health concept, and many programs will employ several services at once, such as online communications, cell phones and biosensors to improve the provider-patient relationship. In addition, global positioning, environmental sensors and digital pen technology are playing an important part in Connected Health services today.

Connected Health promises to deliver a variety of positive change for healthcare practices, including a reduction in the cost of care that will total more than $1 trillion per year for the chronically ill, according to the Center for Health Care Economics at the Milken Institute. Advances in communication between healthcare providers and patients will also allow for closer surveillance of both local and global public health, and as a result, is expected to have an impact on the total number of epidemics and infections diseases that exist.

Other benefits to the use of Connected Health technologies include improved customer service for patients, a reduction in medical errors and safer, more productive clinical trials. All of this points to the fact that the medical industry stands on the cusp of a new era, one in which physicians, healthcare professionals and patients will be able to maximize effectiveness and begin to make real strides in improving mortality rates and reducing the spread of chronic disease.

Electronic medical records (EMRs) can help medical professionals and patients in a variety of ways, but to do this effectively it’s important that various EMR software systems maintain a level of continuity in the way they function. To accomplish this, the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) provides guidelines for testing and certifying EMR IT systems.

A non-profit organization, CCHIT announced late last year that it would offer new testing programs owing to the current realities of the healthcare IT market, which was greatly impacted by the funding set aside for such endeavors by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. One of these new programs, known as Preliminary ARRA 2011 Certification, tests EMR software systems specifically for compliance with the limited criteria set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). This certification will help to ascertain which systems meet ‘meaningful use’ criteria, used to determine which facilities will be eligible to receive a portion of the estimated $34 billion in federal stimulus money that has been set aside to digitize heath recordkeeping systems.

In addition, CCHIT will also offer a CCHIT Certified 2011 testing program that will employ a complex set of more than 300 criteria that has been compiled by the organization since its creation. The CCHIT Certified 2011 testing program will most likely closely resemble previous certification programs that have been developed by the organization, but will be adjusted so systems that pass will also meet ARRA criteria.

When it comes to an exact definition for ‘meaningful use’ of EMR software systems, it can be complicated, but CCHIT has worked hard to ensure that certified systems enable healthcare facilities to meet ‘meaningful use’ standards, and therefore qualify for federal stimulus subsidies. Therefore, it is essential for physicians and healthcare providers to take the time to make sure that any EMR software system they are considering meets these guidelines and has been properly certified.

Today, patients can easily manage and access their personal medical records online via Google Health, a simple and effective program that removes the hassle of paper filing systems. In addition, Google Health has simple, well-documented Application Program Interfaces (APIs) and employs the use of health information standards – including the Continuity of Care Record (CCR) and ASTM International – to transfer, retrieve and store patients’ health information.

Thanks to these advances in technology, healthcare professionals can now empower patients to gain control over their own medical histories – and encourage them to spread the word about Google Health among friends and family as well! Asking patients to import their medical records to this platform is a crucial step in digitizing health records, as healthcare software and device developers can then create personalized information for each user by accessing the patient’s information from the operating platform.

Google Health has taken the user’s privacy concerns into account as well, implementing the highest level of online security that includes but is not limited to the use of digital certificates and end-to-end public key encryption. In addition, Google Health allows physicians to analyze cross sections of a single patient’s medical history, and/or to compare it with multiple patient histories – as long as the patients have all granted access.

Patients can formulate electronic medical records in Google Health simply by creating a Google account and signing up for Google Health. Next, they are prompted to import their records online and to add the name and location of any medical providers. There is also room to add a variety of other medical information, as well as a number of questions that must be answered, including data regarding the patient’s height, weight, age, existing medical conditions, etc.

Physicians and patients who work together via Google Health will be ahead of the curve in the effort to centralize the nation’s medical records. Doing so will prevent loss, reduce errors and improve the quality of care – what are you waiting for?

Kirsten E. Silven

When it comes to Electronic medical records, a few things are certain – we can’t rely on patients or providers to remember everything, and paper files are cumbersome, fragile and inefficient. Electronic medical records (EMRs) provide a much-needed solution to these issues, and the federal government has earmarked $34 billion in stimulus money to help physicians make it happen.

How it Works?
Due to the stimulus money, healthcare providers could receive incentives to adopt digital recordkeeping systems over the next five years. After 2015, physicians who have not converted will be penalized, perhaps with reduced payment from Medicare, for example. In order to qualify and receive bonus payments, it is important to make sure your EMR software meets the federal requirements for “meaningful use,” which are expected to be completely defined by late spring of 2010, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Why it’s Important?
Medical records are not only a vital part of every patient’s care, they are also valuable assets for healthcare facilities that may be looking to obtain grants or gain additional market share. In addition, not only are electronic medical records safer, more efficient and more effective than paper files, but they could also be part of the solution to bringing down our nation’s soaring heath care costs. In fact, some experts estimate the healthcare system could save up to $30 billion each year, simply by reducing errors, allowing physicians to coordinate care for patients who are chronically ill and eliminating duplicate lab and imaging tests – all areas that are impacted by EMRs.

Regardless of any obstacles that may arise, or resistance from various parts of the medical community, the stimulus money, along with the many resulting organizational questions that have arisen, ensure that EMRs will be the wave of the future. Patients and insurance providers will, over time, find it increasingly difficult to work with offices that do not use electronic methods of recordkeeping, thereby also contributing to drive the shift in procedures.

By Kirsten E Silven,

Vidhu Panicker

Medicalsoftware.com, the nation’s premier Medical Billing outsourcing company has partnered with MedAppz to cross-promote their services and products. MedAppz is one of the best CCHIT certified EHR software companies out there.

“This partnership will help medical practitioners to make a stress free transition as medicalsoftware.com will integrate and customize MedAppz EMR Software into existing medical practices. Medicalsoftware.com provides the preloaded EMR software free with 60 hours of training.” says Marc Haberman, CEO, Medicalsoftware.com.
Electronic medical record software has revolutionized medical practices, rapidly becoming a necessity rather than a luxury. After intense research, Medicalsoftware.com has teamed up with MedAppz to provide medical practitioners with this unique offer that will translate into huge savings. MedAppz is a user-friendly and intuitive system created by physicians who understand the challenges and day-to-day operations. This software is easily available through any internet connection and browser.
The average doctor spends approximately $25,000 when switching to EMR Software. They could save all that money with this valuable offer and pocket the government stimulus money as well!!

This partnership will complement the U.S Government’s policy to add 2% to Medicare payments if the medical practitioner makes the transition to EMR and demonstrates meaningful use. As the electronic healthcare movement accelerates, this encourages hospitals and doctors to make the switch now, computerizing all medical records and billing when they can still take advantage of government stimulus benefits.

To learn more about the partnership and get free CCHIT certified EHR software, with implementation and customization, visit www.medicalsoftware.com or call 1-800-966-9270.