From the July 2011 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
LaRHIX provides instant feedback to women who might not otherwise return to receive their results. Working with Population Health, LaRHIX is already tracking the long-term outcomes of women with abnormal mammography readings.
Along with breast cancer and asthma, diabetes is a serious and costly disease for the state. Close to 330,000 adults age 18 and older received diabetes diagnoses, according to the 2007 Louisiana Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Moreover, diabetes prevalence within the state increased from 5.2 percent in 1997 to 10.1 percent in 2007 among adults age 18 and older, an increase of close to 5 percent.
LaRHIX addressed the statewide diabetes epidemic by augmenting its telemedicine offerings with a retinal scanner to detect glaucoma and other eye conditions among diabetics. It also added a foot and plastics consult so diabetics could receive immediate feedback on foot and wound care, increasing patient awareness of their own treatment needs.
A look into the future
LaRHIX now links to Louisiana State University Health in Shreveport. When LSU’s other nine hospitals go live with a unified record from EPIC at the end of 2012, LaRHIX will cover 3.9 million people out of the state’s total population of 4.5 million.
Lessons learned at LaRHIX that carry on to state HIEs
Start small, think big, move fast: LaRHIX started with seven small hospitals in 2008. Six years later, the organization covers 90 percent of the state.
Engage physicians and other clinicians: Communicate the vision and value of health information exchange, while allowing health care professionals to experience significant, immediate benefit in routine practice.
Think local: Sell providers on the vision of health information exchange, but also offer practical operations support.
Stay lean, but not mean: LaRHIX started with a staff of four. Although the project is now three times its original size, LaRHIX still functions with a staff of five.
Invest only when you must: LaRHIX has consistently resisted the temptation to replace systems with new and trendy vendor product lines.
Tune into patients: Stay aware of demographic and psychographic shifts, as well as changing disease and condition profiles. Consult resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kaiser State Health Facts and state agencies.
Jamie Welch is the chief information officer for the Louisiana Rural Hospital Coalition, Louisiana Rural Health Information Network.
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