Health IT Skirts Care Management

The impending large-scale deployment of health information technology seeks to dramatically improve health care, yet those technologies frequently fail to integrate care management systems that can dramatically influence efficiencies and clinical outcomes, according to results of a new survey.

The "2010 Health Information Technology Survey: How Technology Is Changing the Practice of Case Management" found that health information technology systems are changing medical management interventions less quickly than anticipated.

"More work needs to be done to integrate care management workflows into health information technology," according to a statement released by TCS Healthcare Technologies, which conducted the survey with the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) and the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQQURP). The survey reflects opinions of 670 respondents.

According to the Center for Health Care Strategies, "the goal of care management is to achieve an optimal level of wellness and improve coordination of care while providing cost effective, non-duplicative services."

Among the survey's findings:

• 69% use multiple health IT systems, while 16% use only one health IT system;
• 23% of information technology system(s) is/are fully integrated and interoperable with other external IT applications;
• 23% have moved to a completely paperless environment regarding patient or care management records ;
• 54% scan medical records, documents, or communications into their medical management information system;
• 35% can share clinical data electronically with other providers; and
• 26% allow providers to access report cards that show physician- and patient-specific compliance with reporting initiatives.

"Survey participants were generally positive about embracing emerging patient communication strategies within the next two years," according to the release. "Respondents anticipate a three-fold increase for using text messaging, 'smart phones,' and wireless remote monitoring, and a doubling in the use of online personal health records, patient portals, remote monitoring, and social networking."