EHR - The Future is Coming Home

The home health care sector has existed with very little investment in Information Technology. In 2000, that investment averaged just 0.5% of revenue.  It was recently reported that Europe and the UK are 2 or more years ahead of Canada and the US in implementation of electronic health records (EHR).  They are spending 5% of revenue on information and communications technology (ICT).

Electronic Health Record
EHR solutions conjure up stories of large investments and failed implementations.  Primary Care Physicians have been loath to adopt an EHR system, preferring to wait for someone else to fund the $30,000 - $50,000 annual investment required. And for good reason; doctors should expect a benefit from technology adoption, but the benefits are seen in other areas of the system.  For example, if a patient admits at the hospital emergency room and the staff can access disease, treatment history, diagnostic test results, drug profiles and more, utilizing the patient’s EHR …  great for the patient, great for the hospital, but no payback for the doctor. The provincial and federal governments are now providing investment funds for our doctors to purchase EHR systems.

Many public policy makers consider home care an ideal solution to the increasing demands on the healthcare system, with improved health outcomes and a significant economic benefit.  So what investment funds are available for the fastest growing sector of health care?  There is no funding for home health care ICT.  In fact, Canada Health Infoway excluded home care from the $1.2 billion fund they are investing in EHR adoption in Canada.

To the credit of many, home care has automated its scheduling, payroll and billing processes.  But clinical processes, those that are fundamentally enabled through an EHR platform, are still paper-based.

Transforming Homecare
RAND Corporation, a non-profit research group in the US, found that home care can gain 37% in administrative efficiency with implementation of a full electronic health record system.  With 31% of health care worker time being dedicated to paperwork, an organization can achieve up to a 10% overall cost saving.  An equally important benefit is the extra 4 hours per week our Nurses and Therapists will have for direct client care. 

The new EHR-based solutions for home care fundamentally transform the way our staff access information, make medical decisions and document care.  We see “point of care” devices like the personal digital assistant and Blackberry appearing in the hands of our registered health care workers.  Communication is enhanced, visit information is captured automatically, and clinical documentation is captured at source including the client’s signature (sounds like one of those high tech UPS guys!)

Benefits
An EHR solution can generate administrative savings of 10%. Health Care workers have more time for direct client care, and less paper for nurses to haul around and complete each evening.  We can create a work environment that attracts health care workers to the home care sector.  And most importantly, improved access to information means better decision making leading to improved health outcomes for our clients. 

By implementing EHR, US Veterans Affairs reduced hospital admissions, in a group of 300 home care patients with chronic diabetes, from 25 days to 18 days per year. How much would our helth care system save using an EHR system? Could these savings in the system be shared with Homecare? 

Barriers 
The major barrier to EHR implementation is cost.  Homecare is currently investing 0.5% for back-office administration and continues to use paper-based systems for clinical information.  How do we justify the upfront capital cost for full EHR adoption?

Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS is a new delivery model that software vendors are using to deliver value to the customer.  Rather than paying up front for a software license, the SaaS model let’s you pay as you use and benefit from the software service. 

MedShare HC pricing is based on the SaaS model. Agencies are able to “ease into” the solution, paying only for the services they need on a monthly basis. The monthly fee varies as your business volume fluctuates so that you never overpay, yet can scale up overnight when you win the next big RFP!

MedShare HC is the only home care software provided on the SaaS model.  We have to earn your business every day, by improving the software and service delivery.  Our goal is to optimize the clinical and business processes of your agency.  Our success is linked to helping you achieve reduced costs and improved clinical outcomes. 

At MedShare, we believe that the electronic health record is key to improving the health care system. We are commited to developing enhanced EHR home care software and bringing it to our clients within the realities of today's funding model.

I hope to see you in the future.

Barry Billings

MedShare showcases MedShare HC Version 2.0 and presents Altered Perspectives at CHCA.

Visit MedShare at the 16th annual Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) Summit, December 10-12 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto.

In addition to detailing and demonstrating MedShare HC Version 2.0, we will be launching an exciting new booth, featuring a home theatre and presentation of a short feature titled “The Future is Coming Home”.  And there’s free popcorn and Beanie Babies just for stopping by.

Plus, join us on the evening of December 11, as MedShare sponsors a special event for delegates and attendees. Altered Perspectives is a theatrical evening of fun, comedy and spontaneity. Prepare to have your views altered and expanded during this fun-filled evening that will encourage blue sky thinking and challenge your perspectives.

More information about the Summit can be found at www.cdnhomecare.ca

We continue to refine MedShare HC, based on emerging reporting requirements and suggestions from our clients. The following features are newly available with MedShare HC V2.0.

Still thinking about moving up to MedShare HC? Now you can check out the power and flexibility of our software with this series of concise and informative demonstrations.

• Introduction to MedShare HC
• The 'Client Intake Power Tool'
• Electronic Health Record Integration
• Scheduling - For Administrators
• Scheduling - For Health Care Workers
• The 'Time Entry Power Tool'
• Reporting

All of our online demos are accessible at  www.medshare.com/Demos

On October 5, the Kitchener Waterloo Record published it's ninth annual Technology Spotlight, which examines the dynamic role the technology sector is playing in the growth of Waterloo Region and the Guelph area. MedShare is excited to be included in this year's issue.

You can check out the MedShare article at:
http://www.therecord.com/business/techspot/business_techspot_06100594835.html

On October 15-18, MedShare attended the 25th annual meeting of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) in Baltimore, Maryland. The meeting providing an outstanding opportunity for MedShare staff to network and learn more about the US home health care market with over 3,000 delegates in attendance along with 1,500 supplier representatives.

The MedShare booth was busy throughout the show, with interested delegates viewing demonstrations of recently released MedShare HC Version 2.0.

You can view all the conference highlights at  www.nahc.org

MedShare Contributes to Ontario’s Investment in Access to Health Care Services in Rural Ontario

Participants at the recent media event celebrating successful completion of the RED initiative included, from left: Barry Billings (MedShare), Christine Reno and Joanne Coyle (Therapy Partners), the Honourable Liz Sandals, Gary Smith and Paul Lupinacci (MedShare) and Brenda Lebran (Therapy Partners).

MedShare, Microsoft® , Professional Rehabilitation Outreach and Therapy Partners Inc. recently received recognition from the McGuinty government for successful completion of an integrated software application to enhance delivery of health care services in rural Ontario.

“The McGuinty government is committed to meeting the top priorities for rural Ontario – strong people and strong economies, and better health,” said Liz Sandals, MPP for Guelph-Wellington. "It is clear that the successful completion of this project will result in enhanced delivery of health care services in rural Ontario."

Funding was used to assist in implementing MedShare HC. MedShare HC streamlines the information and business processes of health care providers in rural Ontario, improving direct client care through greater administrative efficiency.

“We’re grateful for the government support and funding of this initiative,” says Christine Reno, Business Director, Therapy Partners Inc.  “Now that we’re at the implementation stage of the project, we’re moving forward to improve the efficiency of community health care delivery in a series of stages that will ultimately result in health care workers spending less time on paperwork and more time on client care.”

“We are fortunate to find two innovative home health care agencies that were willing to tackle the problem of limited information access in Rural Ontario,” says MedShare President Barry Billings.

MedShare added 12 new software positions in their Guelph Ontario office to meet the growing demand that has been created within the home health care sector for this software solution.

“We’ll use this tool to improve the quality of care to our rural client base,” says Chris Linton, Manager, Professional Rehabilitation Outreach. “The improved access to informationalso improves working conditions for front line healthcare professionals. This enhances our ability to recruit and retain staff. Everyone benefits from a progressive and connected health care delivery environment.”

“Our company is pleased to have been involved in this exciting initiative,” says Robert Vos, Manager of Central Sales, Microsoft™ Canada. “When technology can be leveraged to improve health care and quality of life in rural communities, everyone wins.”