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QHN Direct Supports MU Stage 2 - Transitions in Care
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Current QHN subscribers may enroll immediately and use an enhanced version of QHN's secure email service, QHN Direct. The new release, part of QHN's Health Information Service Provider (HISP) product set, is a key component of QHN's new Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform. To learn more about QHN Direct - Direct FAQ's.
The need to rapidly deploy this key product was driven by customer feedback and the need to help subscribers achieve their Meaningful Use, Transitions in Care objectives for 2014. The release is part of QHN's commitment to efficiently and securely deliver information - how, when, and where it is needed.
"Our recently completed contract with our supplier allows us to offer this powerful and secure communication capability to current subscribers as part of their existing subscription agreement for those who enroll for the service before July 1st, 2014," said Dick Thompson, CEO at QHN. "This release will provide our subscribers with an early opportunity to experience one of the many new best-of-breed components which comprise QHN's new "nimble" infrastructures being deployed throughout 2014 and beyond."
Secure provider-to-provider communication significantly impacts the quality of patient care. As a HISP organization, QHN provides security and transport services for directed provider-to-provider information exchange based on the Direct protocol. QHN Direct allows provider care team members to easily and securely send patient information-such as laboratory orders and results, patient referrals, care plans, social histories, discharge summaries, images, etc-directly to other healthcare professionals. This information is encrypted and securely sent via the Internet to authorized healthcare professionals using the QHN HISP. This form of information exchange enhances care coordination and supports transitions in care, benefiting both providers and patients, and supports providers qualifying for EHR Incentives (MU).
QHN Direct enrollment for current QHN subscribers is available by completing the QHN Direct Enrollment Form.
To learn more about HISP and Direct please join us for: MU Stage 2 Transitions in Care- Understanding how HISP and Direct are Part of the Solution in Grand Junction, CO, on April 17, 2014. This is a collaborative educational program offered by QHN and the Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC).
If you have questions regarding QHN Direct, would like to become a QHN subscriber or need further assistance please feel free to contact a member of the QHN Clinical support team at 970.248.0033.
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On April 17, Quality Health Network and the Colorado Rural Health Center will be presenting: MU Stage 2 - Transitions in Care -Understanding how HISP and Secure Email (Direct) are Part of the Solution.
Marc Lassaux, QHN CTO, will provide participants with an overview of HISP and Direct and how they support the Transitions of Care objective found in Meaningful Use Stage 2. Use case demos will be provided and regional/community wide solutions will be explored. Lil Sonntag, HIT and Meaningful Use Consultant, Colorado Rural Health Center, will review the benefits of Direct for Rural Healthcare.
The program is being held at the Grand Junction Courtyard Marriott, registration at 9:30 a.m., with the program scheduled for 10 am- 2 pm. Click here for full event details.
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QHN Repository Access Policy Revised to Include Provider Care Teams
|  As medical care evolves and providers engage in practice transformation to improve care coordination the integration and utilization of care teams is essential. Understanding this dynamic shift drove the QHN Board of Directors to adopt a QHN repository access policy change. The QHN repository is the longitudinal patient record (VHR), a consolidation of information from all disparate sources, on a patient in the QHN database. The new policy expands access to care teams of QHN participating physician providers, who agree to assume the responsibility and consequences for the monitoring of the care team members appropriate usage. This progressive move is in response to QHN subscriber's requests to expand repository access to leverage patient information across the continuum of care for improved care coordination and practice workflow. "Having our medical office staff access to the QHN repository has definitely reduced the steps to get a patient ready to be seen by the physician and improved efficiency" said Dr. Collin Sharp, general surgeon with Montose Surgical Associates. "Having repository access is like having a unified patient chart; it has saved us from duplicating testing and screening exams. I have also found that my staff feels more fulfilled in their work and feel like they are able to perform their jobs better." Dr. Sharp's office worked with QHN to pilot the new repository access policies and procedures. A primary focus for QHN is always patient privacy and security, pilots of this nature help ensure all potential concerns regarding appropriate usage have been met. As a member of the Montrose Memorial Hospital IT Advisory Committee, which provides input, advice and feedback to QHN, Dr. Sharp was instrumental in prompting the new repository access policy adopted by the QHN Board. The QHN policy section (16.1.3) that addresses the new repository (VHR) access may be viewed here. QHN subscribers who are interested in having members of their care team access the QHN repository will need to complete the QHN New User paper work. For more information regarding the policy change and the process to add members of your care team, please contact your QHN Clinical Account Manager. |
Medicare SGR Patch and ICD-10 Delay
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On Monday, March 31, 2014 the Senate voted to delay the scheduled cuts in physician payments under Medicare and delay the switch to ICD-10 billing codes by a year, to October 2015. Physicians were to sustain a 24 percent cut in Medicare payments starting April 1, unless Congress acted to "patch" Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR) payment formula. The House passed the same legislation last week. This is the 17th time a delay has been approved in the poorly designed SGR formula. The bill is expected to be signed into law by the President
Many large and influential physician groups posed strong opposition to this move as they have formed a unified voice promoting a permanent SGR repeal. The concern continues to be that the 24 percent cuts under SGR will force some practices to stop seeing Medicare patients or even force some practices out of business. This is particularly concerning in areas with high population concentrations of people over the age of 65 and in rural areas where provider shortages are prevalent.
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Meaningful Use
Hot Topics
Conference Call
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12:15 - 1:15 pm
Topic:
How MU Stage 2 Changes EHR Workflow
Presenter:
Sara Bailey, IT Manager/Allscripts Superuser, General Surgeons of Western Colorado
Join the call
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MU 2 - Transitions in Care:
Understanding how HISP and Direct are Part of the Solution
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9:30 Registration
10:00 am- 2:00 pm Program
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Understanding the EHR Lexicon: PQRS, MU & VBPM
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Grand Junction:
Tuesday April 22, 12 12:00-1:00 pm
Location: Quality Health Network - 744 Horizon Court, Suite #210
Montrose:
Wednesday April 23, 9:00-10:00 am
Montrose Memorial Hospital - 800 S 3rd St, Conference Rooms A & B
Registration is free, however seating is limited.
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| HHS Releases
New Security Risk Assessment Tool
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This new tool is designed to help providers in small to medium sized practices with HIPAA compliance.
The tool helps practices conduct and document a risk assessment, identify security risks and produce a report to provide to auditors.
The Windows application is available for download here. The iOS iPad version is available from the Apple App Store.
Watch the Security Risk Analysis video.
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| Contact Information |
Quality Health Network
970-248-0033
QualityHealthNetwork.org
Mesa County Physicians IPA
970-248-8031
Western Colorado IPA
970-249-6368
Mesa County Medical Society
970-243-2808
Mt. Sopris Medical Society
719-884-1184
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