HIE/RHIO IT Services
Health Information Exchange (HIE)
Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO)
The ability to create a community-wide patient care network is arguably among the most exciting developments in healthcare IT. The goals for this technology are to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and move toward evidence-based prevention, treatment protocols, and payment methodologies. Pressures from insurers, employers, and government are moving shared data systems to a “must do” status for healthcare providers. Whether the system is referred to as an HIE, RHIO, Community Health Information Network (CHIN), or something else, ECG has the knowledge and experience to guide the creation and/or participation in a data exchange that best suits your unique situation.
We understand the complexities of working with diverse organizations at the local, regional, and statewide levels, as well the challenges of collaboration among many stakeholders. We clearly review the technical alternatives, options for governance, funding requirements, and other system design and implementation issues. Most important, we are fully committed to your success in creating and sustaining an efficient and responsive system. ECG services include:
- Feasibility assessment.
- Participant education.
- Project organization.
- Financial and strategic planning.
- Technology selection.
- Implementation assistance.
- Operations review.
Given our knowledge of the products, services, and vendor attributes available at all sites of care, ECG is a compelling choice for your consulting needs. We have extensive experience in creating both centralized and decentralized data exchanges and in managing large, collaborative projects. Ultimately it is our commitment to the success of your system, including creative and insightful problem solving, that sets us apart.
Selected Projects
Assisting a community hospital and several physician groups in establishing a community-wide patient care network. Expand Minimize
Several physician practices were interested in selecting and implementing an EHR system and integrating these systems with the hospital’s existing information system. In cooperation with the physicians, the hospital initiated a community-wide system selection process, which culminated in over 100 providers (some of whom are employed) choosing the same solution. ECG assisted in guiding the planning and selection process and developing the desired integration.. We further assisted in implementing the EHR and practice management system by providing an interim project manager. As part of this engagement, we developed a new department to support the community initiative, supplying both staff and project oversight during the pilot phase. ECG ultimately coached the long-term project manager, once hired, to continue the project and oversee ongoing operations.
Developing a user-friendly dashboard reporting architecture to measure community clinic performance against key metrics. Expand Minimize
An application and support services provider to community clinics was interested in developing a series of dashboard reports that could be offered to its member clinics to assist them in measuring their performance against key metrics. Specifically, the clinics were interested in identifying a snapshot of performance prior to use of the EHR system, and then a tool to identify areas for ongoing enhancement postimplementation. We assisted our client and the clinics in achieving consensus regarding the types of metrics that would be measured, agreeing upon a format for reporting, and developing an architecture for reporting. We then supplied high-level oversight to our client as it implemented the dashboard reporting system.
Developing a state-wide central EHR purchasing and assistance collaborative including integration with the state-sponsored Medicaid program. Expand Minimize
A state-sponsored Medicaid program initiated a project to identify, contract with, and support EHRs for physicians across the state (and potentially beyond). The vision included a central EHR purchasing and assistance collaborative which would support these systems along with integration to the Medicaid program and other payors for statewide population data management. ECG was engaged to negotiate contracts with the selected vendors. As neither vendor had a stock contract that was appropriate given the unique environment and considerations, we worked with legal counsel of the EHR purchasing and assistance collaborative to clarify business assumptions and develop contractual documents that would be used for each vetted EHR system, with slight modifications (for example, a vendor-specific bill of materials). Agreements were negotiated with two vendors, simultaneously, in an extremely compressed timeline, thus enabling our client to meet its commitments to the community. The negotiated contracts provide protections to our client and community physicians while also allowing the vendors to maintain financial viability during this pilot project.
