Healthcare Information Technology

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In this Q&A segment, Russell Hall, President and CEO of Macfadden, shares his thoughts about advances in Healthcare Information Technology. Mr. Hall welcomes the opportunity to discuss the applications of IT solutions in the healthcare industry in greater detail. If you are interested in continuing this dialogue, please contact him at info@macf.com.

Q: What do you see as the most significant IT challenge faced by the healthcare industry today?

Interoperability continues to be a significant challenge as organizations attempt to integrate the various standards being set in preparation of linking disparate healthcare information systems. The American Health Information Community (AHIC) and other organizations, such as HITSP and IHE, are currently wading through a great number of different standards including HIPAA and HL-7. Establishing an implementation plan and trying to make sense of these standards can be very confusing. Organizations must also balance security and privacy issues as they work to implement these standards.

Q: What types of IT solutions can Macfadden recommend to help organizations overcome these challenges?

Macfadden has extensive management consulting experience and we have worked closely with our clients throughout the change management process. We help our clients ensure compliance with standards and security requirements enabling a structured and smooth transition. We have a solid understanding of the unique needs of this industry and have worked with clients in the healthcare sector for many years.

For example, Macfadden provides Information System Security Office (ISSO) support to the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). As part of this contract, Macfadden developed IT security policies, processes and methods and designed, implemented and managed a new configuration management system.

Q: Reducing the number of medical errors and mistakes in administering and dispensing medications continues to be an enormous concern for both the medical community and the general public. How can Macfadden use IT applications to help save lives and improve the quality of our nation's medical care?

Through our work with FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Macfadden is supporting the drug evaluation process and helping ensure efficient and accurate communication of data, enabling the FDA to effectively interact with the public. Macfadden's IT solutions are helping bring needed medications to market quickly and efficiently. Our enterprise search experience has played a crucial role in enabling searchable files within the Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS), helping the FDA respond quickly to harmful drugs.

Additionally, Macfadden's healthcare community experts have built decision support systems and dashboards that alert manager's to errors, outliers and areas that may be improved.

Q: A target date of 2014 has been set for the nationwide adoption of electronic medical records. What are the inherent challenges associated with converting from a largely paper-based system to an electronic system?

We have worked with numerous clients to improve document management capabilities and content management systems. As I see it, credibility is the key to success in this type of conversion. Providers must have confidence in the systems being developed and its ability to maintain privacy. Successful implementation depends largely on user acceptance. Choosing credible, certified components and companies with a proven track-record of success is essential. At Macfadden, we help our clients evaluate all of their options. We don't just sell them on the need for a new system. As part of our system development process we help clients evaluate all of their options and plan the best course of action to meet their unique needs.

Q: How can Macfadden help organizations ensure this transition is smooth and successful?

In order for a smooth transition, it is important that these vast amounts of data are readily available and retrievable, not just "stored" electronically. We help our clients make sure that information is available quickly and efficiently. We guide them through the integration and evaluation process. For example, the FDA has at least 23 searchable databases containing more than 5 million documents. Through our work, Macfadden helped the FDA substantially reduce document search time, enabling scientists and researchers near instant access to critical information.

Q: Information security is a primary concern for most organizations, especially in the healthcare industry, where protecting the privacy and security of patient information is of utmost concern. What steps should be made to safeguard this information and how can Macfadden ensure this is achieved?

Our experience working with the FDA's system security standards provides us with a unique insight and a critical knowledge base. We have extensive experience working to safeguard Protected Health Information (PHI). We have the ability to extract individually identifiable information within patient medical records and essentially scramble or encrypt any personal patient information. The treatment data can then be used for analytics, which ultimately impacts the quality of our health care as a nation. Researchers can spot trends and commonalities that result in important medical advances, while still protecting PHI.

Q: Patients typically see multiple providers or specialists as a result of a widely fragmented healthcare delivery system. How can Macfadden use information technology improve collaboration among providers?

As a whole, Macfadden has extensive experience tracking sensitive data. Our experience stretches well beyond the healthcare industry. Our program management skill and information support has been tested in some of the most adverse environments in the world. Through our work with the U.S. Agency for International Development, Macfadden has been tasked with coordinating information support during natural disasters, war and extremely adverse environments where communication and collaboration seem impossible. Our ability to communication very sensitive data and put critical information in the hands of those who need it most, speaks volumes about our ability to ensure medical providers have the information they need to make informed decisions.

Q. Macfadden has an impressive history of helping organizations respond to complex emergencies. How can Macfadden use this experience to help the healthcare industry prepare to respond to complex medical emergencies?

The medical community is increasingly concerned with being prepared for a coordinated response to a complex medical event such as a bioterrorism attack. Macfadden has provided program management and information support to ensure needed medical supplies and equipment reach areas ravaged by disaster. We help make sure a coordinated response occurs and that operations run smoothly, without delay.

Q: What makes adopting new information technology particularly challenging for the healthcare industry?

The sheer volume of data is immense. There are so many different places that this data interacts that standardization becomes a very difficult task. The data collected in the healthcare industry is far more complex. For example, if you compare the healthcare industry to the banking industry you see that tracking financial transactions is fairly simple. The data fields are well-defined, straight-forward and there is little question about what data is relevant. Contrast that with the healthcare industry, and you will see the complexity of the data. Vast amounts of member information, demographic data, diagnostic codes, ailments and insurance carrier information exists. The standardization of this information is extremely challenging. At Macfadden, we understand the unique nature of the health care industry and the types of data that must be tracked as well as needed functions. Ultimately, our goal is to help improve efficiency and enhance the overall quality of medial care.