| In the medical community it is widely known, | | | | Medical Associates will make good use of |
| maybe even universally accepted, that | | | | faster, more economical bandwidth (T1's, |
| governor Janet Napitolino's mission is to | | | | cable or fiber optics) to enable transmission |
| make Electronic Health Records (EHR) common | | | | of small to large files to radiologists, |
| in Arizona by 2010. While EHR is one step of | | | | laboratory firms, vaults for offsite data |
| many to reduce healthcare delivery costs and | | | | back up and restore, or billing companies, |
| improve operational efficiencies, it's not | | | | etc. With the Governor pushing digital |
| without enormous challenges to providers | | | | records by 2010, a more cost-effective |
| (medical practitioners) and staff. The | | | | transport solution must be a requirement, not |
| ambitious imperative is an investment in | | | | a necessity. |
| software, equipment and network bandwidth, | | | | |
| staff time to convert paper to digital | | | | Shifting Forces |
| records, training and so on. | | | | |
| | | | Further, the telecom industry is moving |
| Providers should critically examine relevant | | | | swiftly and confidently with Voice over |
| sources to getting started on the EHR path. | | | | Internet Protocol (VoIP) which enables |
| First is turning to product certification. | | | | telephone calls to use a broadband Internet |
| The Certification Commission for Healthcare | | | | connection. And in the same breath, Session |
| Information Technology (CCHIT) is charged | | | | Internet Protocol (SIP trunking) is gaining |
| with certifying vendor products on three | | | | momentum in the telecom arena, which is an |
| points-Functionality, Interoperability and | | | | application enabling improved |
| Security. This certification enables | | | | station-to-station communications and lower |
| physicians to evaluate a few out of many | | | | telecom costs. SIP trunking works on DSL, |
| vendors. Second is to gain intelligence about | | | | cable, and T1 transports, and the combination |
| various systems by using the Internet and | | | | of VoIP and SIP will go a long way in |
| examining products on web sites. The other | | | | streamlining communications. |
| get-started approach is to seek the support | | | | |
| of a quality Information Technology service | | | | In addition to these advances in the telecom |
| provider already experienced in EHR systems. | | | | community, the traditional business phone |
| Also, if necessary, broadening the banking | | | | system is being replaced with software based |
| relationship to include a line of credit | | | | IP PBX systems at an unprecedented rate. The |
| based on a provider's FICO score. While there | | | | advances include hosted services, which offer |
| are more key steps, the all important ones | | | | medical practices substantial cost savings |
| are the commitment to change and the support | | | | over premise-based PBX's. The decision to go |
| of the physicians and staff to ensure change | | | | hosted is a choice based on considerations |
| is permanent. | | | | such as balance sheets, cash outlay, |
| | | | favorable tax treatment, and technological |
| Offices Getting On Board | | | | obsolescence, just to name a few. |
| | | | |
| It is certainly noteworthy to mention that | | | | These advances require sufficient bandwidth |
| Arizona has a hand full of medical practices | | | | when converging voice and data on the same |
| that are making headway on improving their | | | | transport. Further, installing such a system |
| practice through the proper use of advance | | | | as the main PBX in an MOB would further |
| technology and can be viewed as pioneers in | | | | accelerate the modernization of a medical |
| this arena. One local company, | | | | practice. Telesphere, for example, provides |
| Scottsdale-based, LifeScape Medical | | | | telecom services to the Phoenix Building |
| Associates continues to optimize the advances | | | | Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), which |
| in technology. Dr.Wilder, medical provider, | | | | significantly reduces BOMA's overhead costs. |
| invested substantial life savings several | | | | |
| years ago. The benefits of moving to an EHR | | | | A large percentage of Arizona medical |
| system and using wireless voice communication | | | | practices are likely to operate Electronic |
| devices to simplify interoffice | | | | Healthcare Record systems by 2010. The vision |
| communications out weighed expenses, explains | | | | is for practice management and EHR vendors to |
| Lifescape owner, Dr. Susan Wilder. | | | | revolutionize information technology; for |
| | | | patients to experience office processing and |
| Equipping Medical Office Buildings (MOB's) | | | | communication efficiencies; and for the |
| with "cost-effective, smart bandwidth" by | | | | medical office building industry to |
| using vendors such as Time Warner Telecom, a | | | | contribute to the intelligent healthcare |
| savvy technology user, such as LifeScape | | | | technology imperative. |