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Electronic health plan touted
Published Friday, October 02, 2009 at 05:28 AM
A report released by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius highlights the Columbia Basin Health Association in Othello, Washington. The CBHA provides 25-thousand patients with access to a variety of medical, dental, prescription, and other services. The Association was one of the first health centers in the United States to fully transition from paper-based charts to an electronic health record system. According to Seibelius, the report shows how health information technology can reduce paperwork, make care more efficient and let doctors spend more time practicing medicine and less time filling out forms.

In response to the growing prevalence of diabetes in rural communities, CBHA used their electronic health records system to better track 1,302 diabetic patients. CBHA monitored whether patients received recommended exams and then provided feedback to health care providers on their performance. Since CBHA’s implementation of the program, the community health center has consistently ranked above the 95th percentile nationally in total medical and dental team productivity.

Approximately 65 million Americans live in communities with shortages of primary care providers and nearly 50 million of those Americans live in rural areas. Health information technology, and specifically electronic health records, can improve care for patients and assist in clinical decision making and the use of evidence-based guidelines. Electronic health records can also decrease administrative hassle, increasing workplace satisfaction and productivity.

© 2008 The Nebraska Rural Radio Association. All rights reserved.
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