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Time for eHealth’s Second
Life: Three advocacy strategies for patient-facing health IT (pdf)
 
Submitted By:
Donald W. Kemper, MPH
Chairman and CEO
Healthwise
Founding Chair, IxCenter Board of Directors
Leslie Kelly Hall
Senior Vice President of Products
Healthwise
Abstract:
It’s time for eHI to actively advocate for the patient-facing health
IT applications that will:
- Help people do more for themselves.
- Help people ask for the care they need.
- And, help people say “no” to care that’s not right
for them.
The eHI Blueprint sheds light on the value proposition for health IT
to help consumers make better health care and health decisions. Delivering
that value will build the popular, political, and economic support needed
to lift and advance the entire health IT enterprise.
Using A Healthcare
Benefit Plan to Enable Consumers to Fully Engage in Their Own Health and
Healtcare (pdf)
Submitted By:
Ray Werntz
Senior Consultant
HPN WorldWide Inc
Abstract:
For decades, healthcare benefits plans embraced managed care to discipline
healthcare services doctors recommended and patients expected. Nevertheless,
healthcare cost remains (with consumer spending and economic growth) among
the top threats to U.S. corporations. Frustrated, employers are now urging
employees to adopt healthier lifestyles and use healthcare more judiciously.
This paper re-examines traditional healthcare benefits and suggests a
new benefit plan paradigm that integrates Information Technology and personal
support to cause consumers to improve and maintain their health and address
root causes of cost inflation, poor quality and medical errors to enhance
the quality and value of healthcare they require.
On-Line Personal Health
Records (pdf)
Submitted By:
Phil Pearl
Consultant
Paciderm
Abstract:
This paper concerns online Personal Medical Records / Personal Health
Records ( PMRs / PHRs ). The paper shows some examples of current forms,
calls for the standardization of items to be entered in such PHRs, recommends
using web-based forms that are capable of including medical providers
electronic forms at their sources, and makes some suggestions for ways
in which the use of PMRs may become more widely disseminated.
The paper also discusses the role medical providers might play in providing
and maintaining PMRs, and suggests incentives for them to become involved.
Health Information on the Internet (pdf)
Submitted By:
Lisa Neal Gualtieri, PhD
Adjunct Clinical Professor
Tufts University School of Medicine
Abstract:
US health care consumers are increasingly going online for their health
information and support needs. However many lack the information literacy
and health literacy skills to locate and use health Web sites that are
accurate, reliable, and unbiased, and the knowledge about when to use
the Internet, when to use professional medical care, and how to coordinate
personal Internet use and professional treatment. This leads to, on the
one hand, very productive use of the Internet, and, on the other hand,
the use of poor quality or misleading information or the use of the Internet
instead of appropriate professional medical care.
Faith, Hope, and a Primary Patient-Controlled Personal Health Record (pdf)
Submitted By:
William A. Knaus M.D.
Vice-President and Chief Medical Officer
Patient Command, Inc.
Evelyn Troup Hobson Professor and Chair
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia School of
Medicine
Abstract:
During the past five years a new consumer-based social reality has emerged,
one that offers a trustworthy electronic medical record managed by those
who will benefit most: patients. If developed according to the principles
described below, we contend that a patient-controlled personal health
record (PCHR) social movement will reward people’s faith with better
care and outcomes, greater efficiency, and, significantly, thoroughgoing
privacy protections. A patient-controlled PCHR could also be designed
so that it would not require any immediate changes by doctors and hospitals
and so that it would not depend on “interoperability” among
various computer systems.
Empowering and Engaging….Making Health IT Relevant to Consumers – The American Heart Association Model (pdf)
Submitted By:
Cortney M. Nicolato
Senior Manager, Strategic Alliances & Health IT
American Heart Association – National Center
Abstract:
The American Heart Association, and its division, the American Stroke Association see their role in health information technology as a necessity and are focused on empowering Americans to leverage the personal health technologies as a step in taking personal responsibility for their own health and healthcare decisions. This paper provides an overview of the AHA’s model for supporting the consumers and patient’s throughout their full continuum of care. This paper details in particular, the focal areas of the model, which include The Researcher, The Trusted Collaborator, The Patient Advocate and The Educator.
Consumer Engagement & Empowerment: The Stage is Set (pdf)
Submitted By:
Lindsey Hoggle, MS, RD, PMP
Managing Partner
Health Project Partners, LLC
Abstract:
At no other time in history has the potential for improving health care been better—nor more of a challenge. Luckily there has been sound groundwork accomplished and the stage is set for patients to evolve to “consumers.” Just setting the backdrop for the transformation requires many things: a change in health terms, role modification for all, changes in health policy and provision of services, financial capability frameworks and successful interpretation of health information which can be found 24/7 online—to name a few. Toss health information technology into the mix and the possibilities are endless.
What will tomorrow bring? (pdf)
Submitted By:
Deresa Claybrook, MS, RHIT
President
Positive Resource
Abstract:
This paper will address where we have been in the last 5 years with the implementation of the electronic health record. I will primarily address the changes that deal with the health care consumer (physicians, clinics and hospitals) and the health care patient. I will describe where we have come from and where we are headed with this movement. I will also address what is needed to make this happen This paper is based on research and I have also noted my references.
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Comments: |
| Submitted by: Emily Welebob |
9/8/2008 11:03:42 AM |
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| Engaging consumers and patients continues to challenge all. Alot of documentation is presented about the systems aspect of PHRs, and other IT systems for use - discussion is needed about process / workflow, and impact on outcomes. Fundamental issues remain unresolved - do these technlogies in the papers really improve health outcomes, improve communication, etc - research is still needed and potentail value is still unrealized |
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| Submitted by: Jen Covich |
9/9/2008 3:35:15 PM |
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| So true, it would be interesting to see if someone has quantitative results that demonstrate an impact on outcomes. |
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| Submitted by: Bill Knaus |
9/17/2008 5:58:10 PM |
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| As the author of one of the papers discussing the potential advantages of PCHRs I would like to comment on the request for evidence of effect on outcomes of this technology. For decades we have waited for the health IT industry and providers to address fundamental issues of interoperability and standards. We know now it will be more decades, if ever, that this occurs. And only after we have "seamless" EMRs can we really do the kind of evidence seeking trials asked for. What we are saying is that it is now time to stop the "magical thinking" and give consumers-patients- all of us- an opportunity to serve our best interests and control and disseminate our own medical information. This is not possible yet- the kind of PCHR I describe is not yet been created (although it could be quickly accomplished without the need for cooperation from providers if it was not forthcoming). Then, when we have the PCHRs, it would be appropriate to do the RCT's and the well controlled observational studies that would hold this technology to a high standard that I believe it would meet. But we need to make the transition and enable control and dissemination of personal medical data from "Them" to 'Us" first. To paraphrase..A small step for the data but a giant leap for mankind.... |
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| Submitted by: Eva Powell |
9/30/2008 11:07:10 AM |
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As a social worker, the first thing I learned in graduate school was to meet your client where they are. Considering the fact that the 'client' in consumer empowerment, and ultimately HIT adoption more broadly, is the patient/consumer, I'm convinced that the only way to achieve consumer and patient engagment is to meet them where they are. This article does a great job of describing the potential value of HIT to the consumer and patient in a more direct sense than "better quality care" (most patients already think they get good quality care). The concepts presented here also address one of the main concerns of consumer advocates with the notion of 'consumer driven health care,' namely that consumer driven care is viewed as simply shifting the burden of responsibility for health care decisions to consumers, without providing the relevant information in a useful format such that consumers can make truly informed decisions. The ideas put forth by this paper highlight one of the true benefits of HIT - that it is a tool that can empower all stakeholders to make our health care system more effective and responsive to consumer needs. My one caution is to bear in mind that providing this tool to consumers should not in any way absolve other stakeholders of their responsibilities in a collective effort to make better health care decisions. While I don't hear anyone suggesting this, policies, if not crafted thoughtfully, can result in this unintended consequence.
The other important concept is the notion of providing information therapy that is relevant to the point of care. After all, more information isn't necessarily helpful if it isn't provided in a context that's meaningful. Patients and consumers can't be partners in their own care if they don't have meaningful access to information and tools.
Finally, one caution about expectations. While I believe the attitudes of consumers depicted here are accurate based on a number of surveys, it's important to keep in mind that widespread adoption of these kinds of tools isn't likely to happen immediately. Once consumers see the value of these tools themselves, adoption is likely to speed up, but the culture of health care is also a force in adoption, and that culture remains largely paternalistic. Overcoming that hurdle will also be a part of widespread adoption. |
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