Squeaky wheels seek CCHIT oil

CCHIT's timeline for EMR certification excludes ophthalmology-specific EMRs like IO Practiceware until the year 2011. While we in the Eye Care community have an overwhelming urge to go Chuck Norris on CCHIT, we're going to first try peaceful resistance.

If you believe in the value of specialty-specific EMRs, make your voice heard! Post comments below.

To start the dialogue, here is a letter from Gregory Leopold, CEO of IO Practiceware:

Some of the most innovative EMRs are specialty-specific. This is certainly true in ophthalmology. While it may be self-serving to say so, it is true that non-specialty specific EMR have generally failed to supply ophthalmology practices with the tools they need to record their exams properly and cost effectively. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has been working with a group of ophthalmology-specific EMR companies to develop scripts for CCHIT certification for ophthalmology-specific EMR vendors. The work on these scripts has been completed and they could be used immediately to certify ophthalmology specific EMR companies.

While we appreciate CCHIT’s willingness to work with us in this area, the timeline for completion of the CCHIT certification process for eye care – which is currently set for 2011 – is unacceptable. Other EMR vendors in the AAO sponsored group share my concern and disquietude.

It is crucial that the timeline be moved to 2009 – or that some sort of arrangements are made for ophthalmology-specific EMR companies to receive some sort of “in progress” certification that allows us to participate in a marketplace that increasingly shuts out non-CCHIT certified products.

Either let us in now or tell the world that it’s OK for us to be “in the process”. It would be a great disservice to the cause of EMR if CCHIT were to drive some of the most innovative EMR companies out of business because it could not certify them promptly.

If our respectful protestations don't get CCHIT's attention, we may have to resort to Article B: a diatribe of semi-vulgar, though pun-obscured expletives entitled, "Cut the *BULLCCHIT*" (stay tuned).

Touch Pad Technology, or, Our Superiority Complex

Let's be honest: at IO Practiceware, we think we're pretty awesome. Why?

Three words: Touch Screen Interface.

"Touch Screen" = self-explanatory. "Interface" = our software's ability to communicate between chart displays and information tables, creating a system of truly integrated data entry, retrieval, revision and review.

But what make's IO Practiceware's Touch Screen Interface better than other companies'? Why the self-described "superiority complex?"

Well, apart from the fact that all our employees are ridiculously and inexplicably attractive, our software was designed as touch screen software -- which is to say, to support touch screen data entry. Other companies that "use" touch screens usually do not offer software that is properly designed for this form of input. Which means that it doesn't make much of a difference whether or not you use your finger, a mouse, a pencil, a herring bone - it's all just as slow (even slower!) than paper charts.

So how does IO Practiceware remain a shining beacon of truth and beauty?

Read more to find out...

IOInfo: How To Clean Your Touch Screen

Let's face it: all that touching can make you feel...dirty.

So get cleaning!

Any standard glass cleaner can be used to clean the IO Touch Screen, but be sure to avoid products containing ammonia.

Always spray the glass cleaner on the cloth or towel first and then clean the Touch Screen. Glass cleaner sprayed directly on the monitor could possibly leak inside a non-sealed unit and cause damage.

Dirt and fingerprints do not affect the operation of a properly sealed AccuTouch or IntelliTouch touch display.  

Which means if you clean your IO Touch Screen effectively, you'll never have to wash your hands or trim your nails again!   Your patients may object, but your Touch Screen won't.

IOInfo: Calibrating Elo Touchscreens

Over time, your Elo touchscreen may require calibration.  Often this becomes apparent when the mouse or pointing icon does not appear in the location where you touched the screen -- which often becomes apparent when your doctors or techs shout expletives from the exam room.

To protect the innocence of young children in the waiting room, all you need to do is calibrate your touch screen! 

How? 

Read more...

Yes We Can: Under Obama, Bright Future for Health Care, EMR

We all knew President-Elect Barack Obama looked great in his skivvies, but some were skeptical about his proposed health care plan. To what extent, we still wonder, will Obama advocate for better health technology? How much money will he allocate toward facilitating widespread adoption of EMR systems?

On Thursday afternoon the Harbinger of Hope proposed a preliminary outline for a $100 billion package for healthcare, and at the top of this agenda is a plan to bestow new incentives onto practices that use electronic medical records. It seems he has great faith in the future success, and necessity, of EMR.  Says Obama:

To improve the quality of our health care while lowering its cost, we will make the immediate investments necessary to ensure that, within five years, all of America's medical records are computerized. This will cut waste, eliminate red tape and reduce the need to repeat expensive medical tests.

Read more...