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.

When making the switch to a new electronic medical record software system (EMR), physicians and healthcare facilities must take into account the inevitable workflow interruptions and the ‘learning curve’ that will arise as a result of the software implementation process. By not requiring healthcare professionals to enter too much (or too little) information, systems can achieve a balance for the facility, making recordkeeping systems more effective while streamlining the medical charting process.

Keep in mind that EMR workflow changes will even reach all the way into the actual examination rooms, especially since many physicians are still charting by hand, using symbols and abbreviations that make sense only to them and to their staff. This ‘language’ was originally developed to help doctors save time and space when recording notes, but EMRs will require physicians and other staff members to learn a standardized system and to be more mindful when inputting information. As a result, it’s very important to be selective when choosing the information that will be required by the EMR software system your facility adopts.

In order to determine what information should be required by your EMR software system, take the time to make a definitive list of everything you would like the system to do for you in a perfect world. Then, eliminate the things you could live without. For example, is e-prescribing important to you? What requirements do your specialty have? Do you want to participate in PQRI? Once you have identified the must-have requirements for your facility’s EMR software system, you can work with your software provider to modify an existing system to better suit your specific needs, or to find an ‘off-the-shelf’ product that comes loaded with everything your practice will need.

By taking the time to plan extensively and concentrating on anticipating the future needs of each individual practice or healthcare facility, medical professionals can ensure that the amount of information the EMR software system requires them to input will not slow down medical charting. On the flip side, proper planning will also ensure that enough information must be entered, so physicians and healthcare professionals everywhere will begin to enjoy unprecedented access to comprehensive and comparative data.

Functionality is a major point to consider when choosing an electronic medical records (EMR) software system, so it’s essential to develop an understanding of the key performance indices that should be captured for a medical practice by an EMR software system. Usability is also an important component, so be sure to consider how easy it will be for everyone involved to learn how to operate the system.

Working with a reputable consulting firm can help you get to the bottom of your practice’s needs, but a good rule of thumb is to find a system that will enable you and your staff to electronically complete all necessary tasks in the same amount of time (or less) than it takes to do them on paper.

Good EMR software systems should be able to accommodate doctors who are used to dictating, as well as those who prefer to type their notes. Also, scheduling appointments should be a snap, but ask about integration to make sure staff members don’t have to toggles back and forth between two systems. You should be able to quickly and easily scan paper documents into the system, and sending a prescription electronically should take mere seconds. Finally, allowing faxes to come directly into the EMR system should help the overall work flow, while staff members should be able to enter information regarding vital signs at the point of care by using a tablet, touch screen or laptop in the examination room.

You should also be able to easily track your clinic’s overall performance on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. Many EMR software systems will allow doctors to chart the demographics of patients, revenues and accounts. This data allows you to evaluate the performance of different areas of a facility, spot trends and ultimately enhance your services by adjusting to the unique needs of your practice. On a very basic level, your EMR software system should also allow you to collect relevant information about the number of physicians on staff, the staff-to-physician ratio and the average number of phone calls that are received daily.

Many physicians, especially those in smaller clinics, are concerned about the cost of electronic medical record (EMR) software. Although the cost can be high, there are a variety of systems available today that will fit any budget. Also, the benefits of EMR software can save money in the long run, as our dependence on paper continues to decrease and proper electronic archiving becomes easier and demand for it increases. By replacing old filing practices with modern technology, clinics can automate data collection and protect important medical data by storing it electronically, which costs less and takes up less physical space than paper files.

The cost of implementing a new EMR system can vary dramatically, ranging from one thousand to ten thousand dollars and beyond. Smaller practices should consider choosing a lighter version of good EMR software, as costs tend to increase as the systems become more feature-rich. To get the best deal and a system that has everything you need, first perform a cost-benefit analysis to determine what features are must-haves for your clinic’s purposes, and which ones you can easily live without. Take the time to find a product that meets all of your current needs and can be scaled to accommodate future needs as well.

As a basic starting point, make sure the system you choose allows you to collect information about the number of physicians that are employed by the facility, the total patient capacity, the staff to physician ratio and the average number of phone calls that are received on a daily basis. In addition, keep in mind that even entry-level EMR software systems will still require you to invest in staff training. On-site training will help you work through any initial issues that may arise and will ensure that everyone knows how to operate the interface and keep the workflow going.

It is also important to ask what types of additional hardware will be required. Whatever you have must complement the EMR software system in order to get the most from it. Choose reputable products that come with maintenance and support whenever possible. The same goes for the EMR software system itself – ask about annual maintenance needs and cost to ensure the system is kept up-to-date. Consider employing a networking professional to take care of your practices on an as-needed basis – this will save on cost while keeping your system updated.

Finally, small clinics should definitely check out government assistance options to help finance a new EMR system. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has allocated $34 billion in stimulus funds for the promotion and support of a national, health information system. In the long run, although it will cost some money to update your existing recordkeeping system to a new EMR software system, the time and money that is saved in the long run – not to mention the drastically improved patient care – makes it well worth the upfront expenditure.