The Health Story Project

Have you heard of the Health Story Project? Have you heard about CDA4CDT? Perhaps you have heard about the +20 billion dollars (and likely more) set aside for health IT as part of the stimulus package for economic recovery and healthcare reform? Maybe you have heard that the EHR is targeted for nationwide implementation by a goal date of 2014? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then every MT will want to learn more about the Health Story Project. Here's why.

One of the objections to narrative text in the EHR is that it is not searchable or minable for data research. Because currently, it is in free-form without an established standards and formats it does not lend itself well to easy tagging for search processes (more). A shift to templated systems or point and click technology alone cannot capture the relevant details and unique circumstances of each patient admission. Something that we can all agree on is that the potential to improve patient care, reduce costs, eliminate redundancy in testing and to gain efficiencies via e-prescribing absolutely exists by migrating to electronic records. The best way to do that and keep the details present, to ensure that DRGs continue to be optimized and to ensure that patient safety comes first, Health Story provides that process.

The Health Story Project by way of CDA4CDT (clinical documentation architecture for common document types) is a process that allows narrative text to be translated in the EHR as searchable, retrievable text. Since more than 80% of physicians prefer dictation and transcription as the method of choice for documenting patient encounters, this process is the way to ensure that the continuation of dictation and transcription will be able to deliver the structured text research outcomes while providing a level of granularity and detail that can only be captured through the dictation medium.

What you can do? Urge your MTSO employer to join the Health Story Project and the many MTSOs who are using this process to enable full functionality of hospital EHR systems while still allowing physicians to record patient encounters in the method that is their preference and the one that allows them more patient care time. Don't work for an MTSO? No problem, talk about it at your hospital - and if your hospital outsources any of their work, ask them to include a request for CDA4CDT in their RFPs.

The time has come for us to take an active role in our future and beginning to have conversations about relevant strategies to help ensure your success and career are here today. Click here to learn more from a physician's perspective.

Going Green/The Economy/Evolving Together

People everywhere are doing it. They are finding ways to conserve and move our world back to better health. It all ties in with good stewardship and sustainability. We know that we want to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Steps are being taken to develop alternative energy sources and if each of us recycles, makes fewer trips in the car, and reduces waste, we all save money and resources in the long run. Make sure you absolutely have to have a paper copy before you hit "print." Plant a tree and bring more oxygen to offset the CO2 impact. click here to see how you can participate. Little things can make a big difference and the things we do in our home CAN help change the world. For more info click here

Betty Honkonen wrote an awesome article for Advance that is available for your reading pleasure by following this link. click here In this article Betty points out how important it is to stay connected in economical downturns. The other compelling point that is critical to success in times like these where changes in healthcare are happening rapidly, is to remember the most important investment you make when times are tight is the investment you make in yourself. Keep yourself at the top of your profession. Staying connected in a networking mode to those who are leading the evolution of these changes can make a difference, particularly if you find yourself in an organization that is downsizing or eliminating certain technologies all together.

Layoffs are happening everywhere read more and no business sector is exempt. The investment in your credential, and in your association should be a priority for you most especially at this time. When employers are selective about who gets hired, make sure that you set yourself apart with a credential that tells the employer that continuing education is important to you. We have a community of solutions and no one should have to face these challenging times alone AHDI. The community of MTs has far more in common in today's evolving healthcare than ever before.

Fortunately the economic stimulus bill has finally passed and although this is a first step to financial recovery, jobs creations, and housing market stabilization, it will certainly take some time to get through it. As healthcare documentation continues to evolve, the actions we take collectively to create and establish careers that support this next evolution, will be much more impactful if everyone in this sector can find a way to work together toward that common goal. When we can as a unified profession emphasize the strengths and contributions we make to healthcare to those who who are making decisions, demonstrate how the knowledge worker's inclusion in healthcare's future is necessary, we then will have an opportunity to play a significant role in the EHR that is absolutely on the way.