EHR's at FAHC

[Chris Santee]

Some of you may know, I was a consultant for an Electronic Medical Record Company for several years.
This is exciting to see it come to fruition.
We don't even know all the benefits of EMR's (or EHR's yet).
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask.

FLETCHER ALLEN HEALTH CARE NAMED VITL PREFERRED EHR PARTNER

Montpelier, VT (Jan. 20) - Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. (VITL), the non-profit organization that is facilitating the implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems and health information exchange in Vermont, announced today that Fletcher Allen Health Care has been named a VITL Preferred EHR Partner.

Fletcher Allen Health Care has implemented its PRISM (Patient Record and Information Systems Management) EHR system in the inpatient areas of the hospital and is in the process of rolling it out to its ambulatory care sites. Through its PRISM Regional program, Fletcher Allen is also offering the EHR to physician practices and hospitals statewide. PRISM is based on technology from Epic Systems Corporation, one of the largest EHR vendors in the U.S.

One of the criteria of being named a VITL Preferred EHR Partner is the software must be able to exchange data with other EHRs via the Vermont Health Information Exchange, a secure network operated by VITL. Fletcher Allen Health Care was able to demonstrate PRISM's ability to exchange data with other EHR systems at the VITL Summit annual conference last September and in follow-up tests.

"Sharing clinical data via the Vermont Health Information Exchange is a critical part of health care reform in Vermont, and we're excited to have Fletcher Allen Health Care's PRISM system be part of it," said VITL President and CEO David Cochran, MD. "As the largest health care provider in the state, Fletcher Allen Health Care will be a major contributor to the Vermont Health Information Exchange."

"Fletcher Allen Health Care's PRISM will enable hundreds of health care providers to access a shared database. But we realize that not all providers in our service area will choose to use PRISM. The Vermont Health Information Exchange operated by VITL will provide a critical link between Fletcher Allen Health Care and providers using other types of electronic health records systems," said Chuck Podesta, chief information officer at Fletcher Allen Health Care.

Fletcher Allen Health Care is VITL's second announced Preferred EHR Partner. The first partner was Allscripts, announced at the VITL Summit last September. VITL is reviewing other applications from EHR vendors and may select additional Preferred EHR Partners in the future.

VITL's mission is to collaborate with all stakeholders to expand the use of secure health information technology to improve the quality and efficiency of Vermont's health care system. VITL's vision is a transformed health care system where health information is secure and readily available when people need it, positioning Vermont as a national example of high quality, cost effective care.

[mirjo]

Although a good idea on many levels, I worry about typos that could be deadly. Unlike handwriting, which can be very messy, but still possibly discernible a typo could mean a big difference in one thing or another. All the electronics in the world will never remove the human element of error.

[Chris Santee]

Typos have been a problem since the invention of the typewriter.
Spell Check and a Dictionary built into the software will help reduce human error.
If a doctor prescribes a medication that does not mix with another already prescribed drug, an EMR shouldn't let him.
Again saving patients and money.