Center for Excellence in Rural Health-Hazard

Rural providers receive e-health ‘Pioneer Awards’

KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND STAFF REPORT

ERLANGER − Leaders in business, technology, health care, academia and government recently gathered here for Kentucky’s annual e-health summit.

Sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Electronic Health Information, the Sept. 7 event drew hundreds from around the state to present ideas and listen to state and national leaders speak about new initiatives in health information technology. In addition, a number of health care providers and facilities were honored at the summit for their contributions in advancing the Kentucky Health Information Exchange (KHIE), the state’s electronic network used for the exchange of medical information between providers and facilities.

“Health information technology can do so much to improve care in Kentucky,” Gov. Steve Beshear said. “Implementing electronic health records and connecting to KHIE has the potential to make health care more efficient and can reduce medical errors. I applaud the providers and health care leaders of the Commonwealth who have joined us in this effort and are working to build a healthier future.”

The summit gave participants the opportunity to discuss the progress, opportunities and challenges facing Kentucky as the state works to develop and implement KHIE. In addition, Dr. Farzad Mostashari, director of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, provided the keynote remarks during the morning session of the event.

Mostashari later assisted in the presentation of the Summit’s first “Pioneer Awards” to providers and facilities around the state that have made significant contributions to the success of KHIE. Rural-based award winners were:

• Pikeville Medical Center, first hospital with live access to KHIE;
• Commonwealth Health Corporation, Bowling Green, first hospital group with live access to KHIE;
• Dr. David Jaco, Murray, first optometrist with live access to KHIE;
• Murray-Calloway Hospital, first hospital to submit data via KHIE; and
• Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Danville, expedience in connecting to KHIE.

The Lane Report also recently reported that Ephraim McDowell Health “has been asked to help the U.S. government improve its health information systems.” Angela Allen, Ephraim McDowell’s director of information services, and Becky Blevins, information services project manager, were scheduled to speak in October at the 4th Annual Electronic Health Records Summit, presented by the Institute for Defense and Government Advancement.

“The goal of the conference is to bring the federal health information systems more in line with those of the general public,” according to The Lane Report. “Allen and Blevins [spoke] on ‘The Current Challenges Impeding the Implementation of Electronic Health Records Systems.’ Their expertise comes from the installation of an electronic health record system for Ephraim McDowell Health and connecting to the Kentucky Health Information Exchange.”

Session topics at the e-health summit included discussion on meaningful use and Medicaid electronic health record incentive payments; Office of the National Coordinator initiatives and the future of health information technology; the Affordable Care Act; KHIE sustainability; and two breakout sessions.

“Technology has transformed so much of the American economy yet, in many ways, the health care industry is just catching on to what can be achieved,” said Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Janie Miller. “We want to help make our hospitals, provider offices and pharmacies even more productive and efficient by helping them implement electronic health records and connect to KHIE. This summit helps bring the right people together to make our vision a reality.”

For more information on KHIE or the EHR incentive program, including how to connect, you may visit http://khie.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx.