Federal and state governments have made health information technology (HIT) initiatives a priority. Meanwhile, more providers and health plans are recognizing the value of HIT and implementing new systems and processes to improve the quality and efficiency of care. In both areas, WVMI & Quality Insights blend of IT, analytic and clinical quality improvement expertise provides us with unique insight and ability to advance this important work. Highlights include the following.
- In West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware, we have helped 250 physician practices select an EHR, analyze workflow and devise strategies to assure effective implementation. We have gained extensive knowledge of the EHR/HIT vendor landscape, EHRs, eRx, disease-specific registries and certifications, and the CMS Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).
- We are currently under contract with the Delaware Medical Society and the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN), assisting physician’s offices in implementing and using a wide range of health information technology.
- West Virginia state government commissioned WVMI to develop a “Roadmap for HIT Adoption.” This document guided e-health legislation and the subsequent establishment of the West Virginia Health Information Network, which will serve as the state’s official Health Information Exchange (HIE).
- To help advance e-prescribing, WVMI conducted a statewide pharmacy survey of use and support. The results helped persuade legislators to change law to allow e-prescribing.
- At the federal level, WVMI recently participated in an AHRQ project to formally interview Medicaid and SCHIP agency representatives about HIT. We helped identify opportunities to provide technical assistance, develop programs, and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the HIT support provided.
- WVMI has also been a leading partner in the Health Information Privacy and Security Collaboration (HISPC), the first federally funded effort to advance multi-state efforts in this area. We recently assessed policies and state laws that could conflict with privacy and security practices or pose challenges to interoperable health information exchange. We also research and implemented a public education campaign.
- WVMI participated in a regional health information exchange project designed to further develop the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) architecture. At an NHIN Forum, ours was the only group to successfully demonstrate transference of data between providers participating in the project.
- In Delaware, we were an active member of the Technical Committee that developed the specifications for the DHIN data exchange utility, reviewed the final choice vendor applications, and advised on a quality assurance contract.
- WVMI developed a statewide, web-based, voluntary reporting system to assist rural hospitals with improving patient safety. The project won grant support from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and ultimately benefited 50% of West Virginia’s hospitals.
- At the conclusion of the AHRQ grant, WVMI co-founded the West Virginia Center for Patient Safety – one of 40 in the nation. Among the Center’s activities is providing technical assistance to hospitals in acquiring HIT, and promoting web-based reporting in its participating facilities.
- On behalf a large federal agency, WVMI designed an HIT system that includes computer-guided medical record abstraction and customized reports. It has provided the impetus for dramatically improved quality performance.
- WVMI has developed a wide array of health information systems designed to improve health care quality and lower costs. These include medical record abstraction software and a web-based prior authorization system for state Medicaid agencies. These systems enable support staff, field nurses, providers, and hospitals to securely collect data into structured and meaningful formats for analysis and quality of care evaluations.
