Trend Report Reveals Increased Reliance on Health IT Systems Across Clinical Settings

Underscores Importance of Integration and Interoperability Functions

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Auburn, CA and Little Rock, AR / PRWeb / January 14, 2014 –A new report on health information technology (health IT) usage identifies key trends in integration and interoperability functions embedded in care management software, electronic health record (EHR) and other IT applications. Analysis of a six-year research cycle unveils several areas where health IT interfaces have slowed or weakened.

This is one of several findings in a new trend report published by sponsors of the 2012 Health IT Survey: TCS Healthcare Technologies (TCS); the Case Management Society of America (CMSA); and the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQAURP).

The latest release in a nine-part series, Trend Report #6: Examining Information Technology Infrastructure, focuses on key IT framework and interoperability opportunities based on survey participant feedback, including, electronic transactions, claims integration, system hosting options, and different types of software applications. To view the report, click here.

“Once the adoption of electronic health IT systems is fully realized, case managers and others should benefit from automated and streamlined workflows, standardized processes, and enhanced communication opportunities among the health care team to provide better transitions of care, and improved outcomes and quality of care,” says Rob Pock, founder and president, TCS Healthcare Technologies. “The research findings demonstrate that most providers and health plans have important steps to take towards optimizing their respective health care IT applications.”

According to Cheri Lattimer, RN, BSN, CMSA executive director, this latest trend report demonstrates wide variances in the way IT systems are effectively supporting providers, their patients and other stakeholders. “More than ever, technology infrastructure is a vital component of efforts to provide efficient, quality and integrated health care to the U.S. population,” Lattimer says.

Not surprisingly, the health IT survey findings reveal an increased reliance on IT systems as more organizations move to a paperless office environment. Of the 2012 respondents, 30 percent state their “office has moved to a completely paperless environment regarding patient or care management,” up from 17 percent in 2008 and 23 percent in 2010.

“These findings are an important reminder that we have made important advances in this digital age, but still have a long way to go to leverage IT,” says Joel V. Brill, MD, member of the Board of Directors of ABQAURP and medical director of FAIR Health. “This report does a great job highlighting some of the basic IT integration opportunities that we need to address to deliver both efficient and high quality health care.”

Garry Carneal, JD, MA, who has supervised the research project since 2008, says the health IT research series was designed and supervised by a panel of leading experts in the field. “What makes this study so helpful is the tracking and reporting of key health IT trends over a period of time,” Carneal notes. “This information should empower clinicians, public policy experts, business executives and others to make more informed decisions when adopting and implementing new IT solutions in health care.”

This is the third time TCS, CMSA and ABQAURP have joined forces to sponsor the bi-annual survey, with the first survey conducted in 2008. By comparing data from all three surveys – 2012, 2010 and 2008 – the series of 2013 Trend Reports reveals several emerging patterns in health IT use and perception. Trend Report #1: Introduction & Methodology Overview provides a background on the survey methodology, participants and sampling technique. All of the published Trend Reports can be viewed or downloaded on a complementary basis at www.tcshealthcare.com in the News section, or by visiting www.cmsa.org.

Trend Reports #7-9 will be published in the next several months. Those interested in receiving copies of the remaining reports as they become available can sign up in the Trend Reports section of www.tcshealthcare.com under the News tab. The TCS website also contains other valuable resources and information, including links to the webinar series showcasing the results of the survey.

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About the Co-Sponsors

TCS Healthcare Technologies (TCS) is a leading provider of software and clinical solutions that support and improve population health management strategies for health plans, insurers, providers, third-party administrators, medical management companies, and others. TCS is recognized as one of the premier health care software companies in the United States designing, offering, and hosting a number of products and services. The TCS Acuity Advanced Care® application provides a comprehensive and integrated care management software system for Utilization Management (UM), Case Management (CM), Disease Management (DM), and Prevention/Wellness (PW) services. For more information: (530) 886-1700; www.tcshealthcare.com.

American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. (ABQAURP), is a non-profit education and certification board that has certified over 9,800 physicians, nurses and other health care professionals in Health Care Quality Management (HCQM) and Patient Safety. Established in 1977, ABQAURP is the nation’s largest organization of interdisciplinary healthcare professionals. ABQAURP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) as a provider of Continuing Medical Education, and by the Florida Board of Nursing as a provider of Nursing Credit. For more information: (800) 998-6030; www.abqaurp.org.

Case Management Society of America (CMSA), established in 1990, is the leading non-profit association dedicated to the support and development of the profession of case management. CMSA serves more than 11,000 members, 20,000 subscribers, and 75 chapters through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy and establishing standards to advance the profession.
For more information: www.cmsa.org.; Twitter @CMSANational.

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