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WHATCOM COUNTY, WA a Case Study WITH UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. Marc Pierson My community PeaceHealth / HInet / CHIC / Pursuing Perfection. PEOPLE & PLACE. Who is “we”? Where is “home”?.
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WHATCOM COUNTY, WAaCase StudyWITH UNANSWERED QUESTIONS Marc Pierson My community PeaceHealth / HInet / CHIC / Pursuing Perfection
PEOPLE & PLACE Who is “we”?Where is “home”?
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."- Margaret Mead
HISTORY Sense making
Healthcare Collaboration in Whatcom County • 1990 – Vision of Seamless Care • 1994 – Whatcom Integrated Delivery System – Community Health Improvement Consortium (CHIC) • 1995 – SJH/PH goes live with Community Health Record • 1996 – Whatcom Health Information Network (Hinet) • 1998 – HInet becomes LLC – charges for first time • 2001 – Diabetes registries, IOM report, continued growth • 2002 – Pursuing Perfection Project • 2003 – Patient Health Record (Shared Care Plan) • 2003 – Community-based Care Coordination
WHY DO IT? Community Information Technology
Values and Beliefs • Seamless care • Best outcomes • Community collaboration • Systems thinking • We are all in this together • Individuality is over-rated, and misconceived: all that is uniquely human is social • Sociology is the missing “medical” science
No One Individual or Organization • The initial vision came from the IOM • The Catholic tradition of service influenced the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace • Don Berwick influenced the CEO • 84 doctors and a hosp. exec team created a vision of seamless care • A hospital and a payer funded the creation of the WAN / CHIN--then all users paid • Malcolm Gleser wrote EMR code hoping for users • Everyone let holes be drilled in their walls and they all purchased computers and printers • Patients found their voice and created their PHR
CONVERSING – more than installing systems • We all worried, thought, planned, stalled, fought, agreed (not all at once, never completely), and found our way forward toward our hopes. • It was and is mostly talk, conversations--understanding each other, technology, timing, capability… • Who is “we”? Who is talking? Why? How?
In my opinionThe most essential person in our community is a PhD Sociologist Injured by our “system of healthcare”. Compassionate and deeply understanding of the people. Aware that an organization is its people. Fully engaged (and employed) by the “system”
Current State of IT • Private self sustaining Health Information Intranet serving community • 1 hospital • 300 physicians (99%) • 8 of 9 Skilled nursing facilities • 90 locations • Over 1800 pcs • 1800 network users • 170,000 inhabitants
Current State of IT • Hospital online with robust installation of IDX LastWord EMR, accessible to all physicians and their staff in their offices and homes • Labs and images online • Several specialty practices importing notes: GI, vascular lab, nephrology, echo, surgery centers • E-mail - internet access – antivirus protection • Helpdesk phone and onsite service • LAN consulting and implementation
Current State of IT • Medical reference resources on line • Up To Date • Micromedex • MD Consult • Medical Journals, databases, etc in electronic library • 40 doc family practice on Logician EMR • 60 doc multi-specialty group implementing Better Health Record EMR • 575+ Patient Health Records in use, rollout to broader community started • Pilot e-prescribing project beginning • Designing integrated display of Patient Data from disparate systems
Depending on the Conversations • Medication reconciliation between patients and clinics (in pilot) • eRx community-wide • eRx state-wide? • Interfacing / connecting existing EMRs including the PHR • State-wide PHR? • HIPAA compliant community-wide clinical analytical database for health quality improvement
QUESTIONS LOOKING FOR YOUR ANSWERS
Who are the legitimate stakeholders for clinical / health information technology?Who is “we”?
How do we meaningfully engage our communities, states, nation in something that resembles a public utility model for health information technology? vs. privately owned and competing toll roads?
What is the ultimate role for Patient Health Records in an individual’s health? In a community’s public health? Who is “we”? Enforce the continued professionalization of health?
How might community members’ involvement in health information technology initiatives impact the process and outcomes? • Enthusiasm • Design • Governance • Scope • Funding, • Implementation
If physician adoption follows the average 17 year delay (a dense social network) and if it is compounded by financial barriers, what can be done to overcome the “social-structural delay and financial barriers”? Social Networks & Multiple Identities