Content about Electronic health record

March 20, 2013
Pharmacy interoperability and emerging care models: Conversations from HIMSS13

One major theme resonating across the show floor at HIMSS13 was the importance of interoperability within healthcare ecosystems. Emdeon's Lathe Bigler discusses how interoperability in the pharmacy space has been centered on advances in e-prescribing and clinical messaging.

In early March, more than 30,000 healthcare industry participants swarmed upon New Orleans for the annual HIMSS conference. In the words of keynote speaker James Carville, this is the Super Bowl of conventions. Most attendees arrived on Sunday to discover a water outage warning. Even when the water pressure returned to normal, the message was clear — do not drink it! On Monday morning, there was not a latte to be found in the entire city. We were roughing it…

May 23, 2013
More than half of doctor's offices adopt electronic health records

More than half of all healthcare providers who are eligible have received Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for electronic health records, the Department of Health and Human Services said.

WASHINGTON — More than half of all healthcare providers who are eligible have received Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for electronic health records, the Department of Health and Human Services said.

HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the department had exceeded its goal for 50% of doctor offices and 80% of hospitals to have EHRs by the end of the year. By contrast, the percentage of physicians using EHRs in 2008 was 17%. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contained incentive programs for adoption of EHRs that went into effect in 2011.

March 28, 2013
Collaborative practice agreements: Where we are and where we’re going

A decade ago, the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association published a study that examined the state of collaborative practice. In 2003, 32 states had pharmacist collaborative practice regulations. Of those, 23 states allowed pharmacists to initiate and modify drug therapy.

A decade ago, the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association published a study that examined the state of collaborative practice. In 2003, 32 states had pharmacist collaborative practice regulations. Of those, 23 states allowed pharmacists to initiate and modify drug therapy. The study found that collaborative practice had a positive effect on pharmacist-doctor relationships, and on patients’ perceptions of pharmacists.

March 28, 2013
HHS updates HIPAA rules for electronic health records

The Department of Health and Human Services issued a new rule that it said was necessary to protect the security of health information stored online.

NEW YORK — The Department of Health and Human Services issued a new rule that it said was necessary to protect the security of health information stored online.

As required by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, which was part of the 2009 economic stimulus bill, HHS said it would change patient privacy rules in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in order to provide for privacy and security protection for information stored in electronic health records.

January 28, 2013
Pharmacy trends and outlook for 2013

Health care is evolving. As obvious of a statement as that is, it doesn’t change the fact that it is very real. Throughout last year, there was intense discussion on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and what impact the outcome of the presidential election might have on its future. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled and elections are settled, healthcare companies and providers across the country are implementing strategies to meet ACA requirements.

Health care is evolving. As obvious of a statement as that is, it doesn’t change the fact that it is very real. Throughout last year, there was intense discussion on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and what impact the outcome of the presidential election might have on its future. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled and elections are settled, healthcare companies and providers across the country are implementing strategies to meet ACA requirements.

January 7, 2013
Athenahealth to acquire mobile health app provider

A company that provides cloud-based electronic health record, practice management and care-coordination services is buying a developer of point-of-care mobile health applications for physicians.

WATERTOWN, Mass. — A company that provides cloud-based electronic health record, practice management and care-coordination services is buying a developer of point-of-care mobile health applications for physicians.

Athenahealth announced Monday that it would buy Epocrates for about $293 million, or $11.75 per share. The deal for Epocrates, used by more than 330,000 physicians, is expected to close in second quarter 2013, pending approval from Epocrates' shareholders and other conditions.

December 11, 2012
Electronic prescribing comes full circle with automated refill authorizations

E-prescribing offers many well-known benefits to physicians, pharmacists and patients alike. Beyond the well-known patient benefits, real-time transactions with automated requests and responses promise to create efficiencies by speeding the medication ordering process, reducing or eliminating the back-and-forth communications between pharmacists and clinicians commonly associated with handwritten prescriptions.

E-prescribing offers many well-known benefits to physicians, pharmacists and patients alike. Beyond the well-known patient benefits, real-time transactions with automated requests and responses promise to create efficiencies by speeding the medication ordering process, reducing or eliminating the back-and-forth communications between pharmacists and clinicians commonly associated with handwritten prescriptions.

November 29, 2012
EHRs boost adherence, monitoring in diabetics

Use of electronic health records 
improves medical outcomes among patients with diabetes, according to a recent study conducted by Kaiser Permanente.


Use of electronic health records 
improves medical outcomes among patients with diabetes, according to a recent study conducted by Kaiser Permanente.


November 28, 2012
Physicians Interactive and McKesson collaborate on electronic voucher program delivered to clinicians

Physicians Interactive and McKesson Patient Relationship Solutions on Tuesday announced a joint collaboration to deliver eCoupon, one of the industry’s first automated pharmaceutical voucher and coupon distribution solution for clinicians who use electronic health records and ePrescribing software.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Physicians Interactive and McKesson Patient Relationship Solutions on Tuesday announced a joint collaboration to deliver eCoupon, one of the industry’s first automated pharmaceutical voucher and coupon distribution solution for clinicians who use electronic health records and ePrescribing software.  

October 16, 2012
The essential value of HIEs in delivering patient-centered pharmacy care

Emerging multidisciplinary healthcare models, such as accountable care organizations and patient-centered medical homes, promise to elevate quality and lower costs by harnessing the power of provider, payer and patient collaboration. Often overlooked in the coordinated care equation, however, is the integral role pharmacists can play in delivering efficient and effective care.

Emerging multidisciplinary healthcare models, such as accountable care organizations and patient-centered medical homes, promise to elevate quality and lower costs by harnessing the power of provider, payer and patient collaboration. Often overlooked in the coordinated care equation, however, is the integral role pharmacists can play in delivering efficient and effective care.

October 11, 2012
Allscripts sponsors EHR app-development contest

Electronic health records company Allscripts is sponsoring a drive to develop applications that work with the company's Open Electronic Health Records software in order to make it easier for providers to add new apps to their workflow and improve patient outcomes.

CHICAGO — Electronic health records company Allscripts is sponsoring a drive to develop applications that work with the company's Open Electronic Health Records software in order to make it easier for providers to add new apps to their workflow and improve patient outcomes.

September 25, 2012
Innovative technology streamlines shopping

The way Walgreens is deploying technology through its stores may be futuristic, but it is no science fiction. It’s real innovation that is helping to drive its total transformation along so many areas of its business — and it’s being produced in real-time.

The way Walgreens is deploying technology through its stores may be futuristic, but it is no science fiction. It’s real innovation that is helping to drive its total transformation along so many areas of its business — and it’s being produced in real-time.

September 7, 2012
The healthcare future is here

Digitizing the medical records of 150 million patients means that nearly half of the entire population of the United States will have its records stored electronically next year. It's an ambitious goal, but more importantly, it's a major step toward the transformation of the healthcare system toward an electronic, digitized model.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Digitizing the medical records of 150 million patients means that nearly half of the entire population of the United States will have its records stored electronically next year. It's an ambitious goal, but more importantly, it's a major step toward the transformation of the healthcare system toward an electronic, digitized model.

September 6, 2012
Surescripts, Epic partner on electronic health records

Electronic prescribing network Surescripts will connect its system to the interoperability platform of a company that provides electronic health records, under a partnership announced Thursday.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Electronic prescribing network Surescripts will connect its system to the interoperability platform of a company that provides electronic health records, under a partnership announced Thursday.

September 5, 2012
PureWellness integrates wellness system with EHRs

PureWellness has released continuity of care documents supported by HL7 standards for health information exchange between its online wellness system and CCD-supported electronic health records, the company said.

BURLINGTON, Vt. — PureWellness has released continuity of care documents supported by HL7 standards for health information exchange between its online wellness system and CCD-supported electronic health records, the company said.

The new integration allows members and health coaches to synchronize and share lifestyle, behavior and risk information with care providers and their associated data networks. Most EHR systems and the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology have adopted CCD as the standard.

August 26, 2012
Walgreens' A-Team transforming pharmacy retail on multiple fronts

Man, you gotta love it when a plan comes together. In the past week, two stories broke that will help position Walgreens at the top of their A-game.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Man, you gotta love it when a plan comes together. In the past week, two stories broke that will help position Walgreens at the top of their A-game. One is the announcement of Walgreens' entree into the loyalty card arena in just a few short weeks; the other is a huge technology news of Walgreens' rollout of an electronic health record across the company's entire platform. And all this not too long after announcing a blockbuster partnership with Alliance Boots and not too long before Walgreens rejoins the Express Scripts pharmacy network.

August 22, 2012
Walgreens deploying electronic health record solutions across entire platform

Greenway Medical Technologies on Wednesday announced that Walgreens is deploying its electronic health record solution to more closely integrate the retail pharmacy's healthcare services.

CARROLLTON, Ga. — Greenway Medical Technologies on Wednesday announced that Walgreens is deploying its electronic health record  solution to more closely integrate the retail pharmacy's healthcare services. The EHR is currently in more than 200 Walgreens stores, with chainwide rollout to its nearly 8,000 locations planned to be completed by the end of summer 2013.

August 20, 2012
PharmaSmart, Microlife partner to provide integrated screening system

PharmaSmart International and Microlife will offer an integrated assessment of cardiovascular health risk factors to healthcare providers under a new partnership between the companies.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — PharmaSmart International and Microlife will offer an integrated assessment of cardiovascular health risk factors to healthcare providers under a new partnership between the companies.

July 23, 2012
Electronic medication reconciliation: When the healthcare industry collaborates, everyone wins

Healthcare providers in today’s environment are committed to promoting patient safety while providing access to the most reliable and innovative treatments. Medication reconciliation, which is defined by The Joint Commission as “the process of comparing a patient’s medication orders to all of the medications that the patient has been taking,” is designed to prevent drug-related errors — including adverse interactions, overdoses or allergic reactions — and can assist healthcare providers, especially during care transitions when patients are most likely to receive new medications or alternative doses.

Healthcare providers in today’s environment are committed to promoting patient safety while providing access to the most reliable and innovative treatments.

July 16, 2012
McKesson: Seven new trends could affect medication adherence strategies

Changes in healthcare consumption, advances in technology and support from pharmacists are among seven new trends that could affect programs designed to improve medication adherence, according to a new study by McKesson.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Changes in healthcare consumption, advances in technology and support from pharmacists are among seven new trends that could affect programs designed to improve medication adherence, according to a new study by McKesson.

The company said the trends confirmed what it called the need for comprehensive adherence solutions that include technology and personalized interactions to help physicians, pharmacists and manufacturers address issues that keep patients from taking their medications as prescribed.

July 2, 2012
Health system changing with or without reform

Obamacare will stand.

Obamacare will stand.

The U.S. Supreme Court last week upheld the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including the notion that individuals could face federal tax penalties if they failed to purchase some level of health insurance by 2014. That could put as many as 40 million uninsured Americans into the coverage rolls — and potentially into prescription drug coverage — by the time the health-reform law is fully enacted.

May 16, 2012
More than one-third of dispensed prescriptions sent electronically in 2011, report finds

The number of prescriptions being sent electronically jumped by 75% between 2010 and 2011, while almost all of the retail pharmacies in the country are connected for e-prescribing, according to a new report by the country's largest e-prescribing network.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The number of prescriptions being sent electronically jumped by 75% between 2010 and 2011, while almost all of the retail pharmacies in the country are connected for e-prescribing, according to a new report by the country's largest e-prescribing network.

March 12, 2012
Walgreens to deliver immunization data over Surescripts network

Immunization records will be sent directly from Walgreens and Duane Reade stores to primary care providers over Surescripts' electronic prescribing network, Walgreens said Monday.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Immunization records will be sent directly from Walgreens and Duane Reade stores to primary care providers over Surescripts' electronic prescribing network, Walgreens said Monday.

February 24, 2012
Allscripts partnership helps position MinuteClinic for future growth

The fact that CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has partnered with Allscripts to leverage its electronic health record system helps further position MinuteClinic for future growth and clinical collaboration.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The fact that CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has partnered with Allscripts to leverage its electronic health record system helps further position MinuteClinic for future growth and clinical collaboration.

(THE NEWS: MinuteClinic deploys Allscripts EHR nationally. For the full story, click here.)

February 21, 2012
MinuteClinic deploys Allscripts EHR nationally

CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic has announced that it will transition from its existing proprietary electronic medical record system to the Allscripts MyWay Electronic Health Record.

CHICAGO and WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic has announced that it will transition from its existing proprietary electronic medical record system to the Allscripts MyWay Electronic Health Record.