Kel Mohror
OHN's 12 Health IT Best Practices, Part 3: Strategic Checklist for Connectivity, January 09, 2012, Brian Ahier and Kim Lamb, Executive Director, Oregon Health Network
"Health information exchange is a key enabler of improving our health care system. The future of health care [and the livelihoods of providers] will depend on the effective incorporation of digital technologies to help streamline the practice of medicine and to lower costs.”
"The new nationwide health care model that is developing will force us all to think about how our facility, community and state will connect to the health care delivery system via information technology. Reliable, high-speed, high-quality connectivity is the crucial, but often overlooked, component for success. OHN (Oregon Health Network, an FCC Rural Health Care Pilot Program) and other pilot programs are working to bring such connectivity out of the shadows and into the lime-light."
High-speed, high-quality connectivity enables:
- "The ability to share diagnostic images is an important component to a telemedicine initiative. A vigorous robust broadband infrastructure is required for the high-bandwidth requirements for sharing consult x-rays and other diagnostic images."
- "Provision of specialized services over long distances (e.g. telepharmacy)"
- "Delivery of critical health care services to remote and home-bound patients, which could facilitate incredible cost savings."
"Providing the right information, in the right place, at the right time requires robust connectivity."
"Strategic checklist for connectivity general how-to’s" include:
- "Support a health IT strategy and plan in the context of Federal/State initiatives, mandates, incentives and funding streams."
- "Gain knowledge of local and neighboring networks or HIEs."
- "Build with the end in mind."
Comments