EMR SPECIAL SECTION
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The Chronic Disease Management – Quality Improvement program (CDM-QIP) provides continuous improvement of chronic disease management in
Saskatchewan. The program provides clinical tools to
health care providers to help them follow best practices when they provide care, and collects data that
gives health care providers a clear and complete picture of a patient’s condition and care history. Initially,
the program is addressing diabetes and coronary artery disease. In 2014, it will be expanded to include
congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Currently, the program is deploying
flow sheets for both approved vendors.
EMR physicians are eligible for CDM-QIP payments. Two
payments are available:
1. Early Adopter payment is available for the first two
years of the program (April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2015).
2. The Quality Improvement Payment is an ongoing
payment for the submission of all disease specific
chronic disease indicators over a 12 month period.
Quality improvement payments begin in 2014/15.
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The eHR Viewer is a secure web-based solution which
can be accessed anywhere and offers physicians an
up-to-date, shared and complete picture of a patient’s
health information. It provides access to a patient’s
lab results, medication profiles, immunization history,
discharge summaries (Saskatoon Health Region only)
and CDM-QIP indicator data. Newly added for several
health regions are patient clinical encounters which allow family physicians to see if their patients have had
any recent care or treatment in other acute care facilities. Contact the eHealth service desk at 1.888.316.7447
or email [email protected] to enroll.
Having both EMR and eHR Viewer access provides the
most efficient means of populating CDM-QIP indicator
data. Configuration of both Med Access EMR and QHR
Accuro EMR to transfer CDM indicator data directly to
the eHR Viewer, thereby eliminating manual entry, is
planned for in the March release.
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The eHealth Saskatchewan Peer Program supports various technology solutions, including EMRs. As early and
successful EMR adopters, peers are a valuable resource
for physicians and medical office staff interested in
furthering their EMR skill and utilization. Peer services
are not intended to replace EMR vendor training, but
to further assist EMR users in optimizing their system’s
full potential. Peers provide demonstrations, share best
practices, lessons learned and success stories within
their community of practice, and provide ongoing
support through skills coaching and mentoring. These
services are available at no charge and are now also
available by WebEx, reducing the need for travel and
avoiding winter weather challenges. Contact the EMR
program at 1.800.667.3781 for more information.
FUTURE EMR INITIATIVES
The Saskatchewan EMR program is slated to work with various partners to continue to build on service scope and functionality. One initiative has the EMR program working with
various stakeholders to develop standardized forms across
approved EMR vendors that will be consistent throughout
the province. Another project stems from Resolution #16
from the fall SMA Representative Assembly stating, “That
the SMA urges the expedient incorporation of clinical pathways components into electronic medical records.”
As the EMR program gets closer to its adoption target of 80
per cent of eligible physicians using an EMR, more emphasis will be focused on helping physicians get beyond basic
utilization and realize the benefits an EMR has to offer. The
maturity model will act as a detailed roadmap to help physicians optimize their EMR use. The EMR program will work
with its approved vendors and other stakeholders to provide development opportunities for EMR users.
Regardless of the program, the EMR program will work with
the SMA and eHealth to ensure that all future development
of Saskatchewan EMR resources will only move forward
with meaningful involvement of physicians on clinical expert groups.
SMA NEWS DIGEST | SPRING 2014
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