Feb 11, 2011 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Digital Pathology, Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Clinical Pathology Laboratories Swamped With Requests to Interface Their LISs to EHRs
This is the first year that hospitals and physicians can qualify for federal incentives associated with their adoption and meaningful use of electronic health record (EHR) systems. Already clinical laboratories and pathology groups report increasing demand for them to interface their laboratory information systems (LIS) to the physicians’ EHRs.
The financial incentives for hospitals and physicians are authorized as part of the federal government’s health information technology (HIT) incentive program. To get their fair share, healthcare providers must demonstrate by the end of 2011 (September 30th for hospitals) a 90-day contiguous meaningful use of an electronic health record (EHR) for Medicare transactions—and either adopt, implement or upgrade an EHR for Medicaid also within 90 days. Hospitals can receive payments for both, but physicians only one. (more…)
Jan 28, 2011 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Wellness Programs Require Appropriate and Timely Use of Medical Laboratory Tests
Pathologists and clinical laboratory managers know that smoking, obesity and unnecessary utilization are major factors in the skyrocketing cost of healthcare. These are primary reasons behind the desired transition from reactive and acute care to a health system organized to deliver proactive care.
Consumer cooperation will be essential for this transition to succeed. Each year, the number of employer-funded or insurer-funded health and wellness programs increases. That trend is consistent with the federal government’s interest in promoting its own health and wellness programs as one way to lower the total cost of healthcare.
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Jan 19, 2011 | Digital Pathology, Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory Pathology
Study Finds Weaknesses in the Performance Of CPOE System in Daily Care Settings
Many experts believe that wider use of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems can contribute to the better utilization of clinical pathology laboratory tests. CPOE is considered one method for helping the physician order the right medical laboratory test for the patient at the right time—then use the clinical lab test results to implement the most appropriate therapy.
CPOE is an important decision-support tool for physicians at the point-of-care (POC). Regular use of a CPOE is also something that the federal government specifically identified as necessary to accomplish “meaningful use” link under the ARRA/HITECH Act legislation. (more…)
Oct 22, 2009 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Labs Must Report Privacy Breaches of 500 or More to the Media
Call it HITECH collides with HIPAA! Most pathologists and lab executives know that passage of the HITECH Act was the part of 2009’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also referred to as “ARRA” or the “stimulus bill”). HITECH provides incentives for the expanded use of electronic health records by physicians and other providers.
But what is lesser known is how the HITECH Act creates new legal obligations of covered entities and business associates under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA). These new legal mandates are designed to protect the privacy and security of the patient. They require clinical laboratories and all providers to take specific actions whenever patient privacy is breached.
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Aug 12, 2009 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Effort will identify which clinical procedures actually benefit patients—and are cost-effective
“Comparative effectiveness research (CER)” is likely to be one method that healthcare reformers use to establish reimbursement for different medical technologies and treatments. This will apply equally to clinical laboratory testing and pathology professional services as well as other medical procedures.
There is a compelling reason why comparative effectiveness is likely to happen on this turn of the healthcare reform wheel. Congress put teeth into the comparative effectiveness movement earlier this year when it provided $1.1 billion to support the effort in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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