Dec 16
2014
WEDI: Virtual Clipboard Initiative Launched to Streamline Patient Intake, Eliminate Wasteful Admin
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) in partnership with the Sullivan Institute for Healthcare Innovation, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), assembled more than 40 representatives from major health plans, providers, health IT vendors, healthcare organizations and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) in an effort to develop an effective and consistent industry blueprint for a virtual clipboard mobile application. This meeting was the first step of a campaign to develop and pilot an effective and consistent industry blueprint for the patient intake process, including automating the collection of critical health insurance and demographic information.
“We’ve been talking about the importance of shifting to a paperless healthcare environment for years but the patient intake process is still mired in the ‘70s. Not only does the current process add unnecessary costs in the system, but it can lead to treatment complications due to inaccurate or incomplete health records,” said Devin Jopp, Ed.D., president and CEO of WEDI. “Through a collaboration driven by WEDI, the Sullivan Institute for Health Innovation and our other partners, we are committed to moving away from the existing routine of clipboards, photocopiers and manual keystrokes, and toward use of a patient-friendly virtual clipboard.”
The initiative will focus on identifying and promoting effective and actionable electronic approaches to patient information capture, maintenance and dissemination that leverage mobile devices and “smart” technologies and applications. The goal of the first phase of the pilot will be to allow patients to submit all of their pertinent health insurance and demographic information and other intake data through an easy-to-use and standardized mobile approach. The second phase of the pilot is expected to consist of patients being able to exchange essential health information – including medication reconciliation and allergies – in a digital format at the time of check-in with their provider.
“Physician practices currently must deal with numerous proprietary approaches to health insurance cards, lack of automated solutions, and challenges associated with collecting and recording accurate patient data,” said Anders M. Gilberg, senior vice president, government affairs, for MGMA. “This important initiative has the potential of significantly improving the patient intake process, currently an overly burdensome and costly component of the healthcare system. We commend the Sullivan Institute for Healthcare Innovation for taking on the formidable task of bringing key stakeholders together in this effort to reduce administrative inefficiencies.”
“For years, HIMSS has worked with its members on patient record matching and patient data integrity,” said Lisa Gallagher, vice president, technology solutions at HIMSS. “We anticipate that this project will address data quality in a significant way and deliver a near-term, real solution for patients and the industry alike.”
About WEDI
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) is the leading authority on the use of health IT to improve healthcare information exchange in order to enhance the quality of care, improve efficiency, and reduce costs of our nation’s healthcare system. WEDI was formed in 1991 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was designated in the 1996 HIPAA legislation as an advisor to HHS. WEDI’s membership includes a broad coalition of organizations, including: hospitals, providers, health plans, vendors, government agencies, consumers, not-for-profit organizations, and standards development organizations. To learn more, visit www.wedi.org and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About the Sullivan Institute
In 1993, the original WEDI Report brought together public and private industry to develop a roadmap for healthcare information exchange. In 2013, on the 20th anniversary of that original report and with Then Honorable Louis W. Sullivan, M.D.’s leadership, WEDI developed a new report which laid out the future of healthcare information exchange. The Louis W. Sullivan Institute for Healthcare Innovation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, named in honor of The Honorable Louis W. Sullivan, M.D. Its mission is to bring healthcare leaders together to share knowledge needed to transform the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery through education, cooperation, communication and innovation. To learn more, visit www.sullivaninstitute.org.