Considering interoperability of provider subset

Last month, a bill was introduced to expand Meaningful Use incentives to mental health providers. This month, a survey provides indications of how well another subset of providers is doing with interoperability.

Many long-term care providers in the U.S. have adopted EHRs and provided patients with internet access, but few are participating in health information exchange (HIE) with outside providers, according to the survey conducted by long-term care provider association LeadingAge and investment bank Ziegler.

Polling of the 94 largest not-for-profit U.S. senior living center networks found that three-quarters use EHRs.

Long-term care facilities have struggled to adopt other forms of health IT, according to the survey. Only 30 percent of the facilities digitally share information with residents' other providers; about 28 percent electronically prescribe and electronically share medication orders; 25 percent exchange laboratory orders and results; and 22 percent share other diagnostic tests.

Less than one-fifth (18 percent) use telehealth and remote monitoring systems; about 15 percent share advance directives, clinical notes, problem lists and discharge and transfer reports; 11 percent share non-regulatory assessments with outside groups; 10 percent integrate mobile health information in their EHRs; and 9 percent share care plan information with outside groups.

Is your organization working on exchanging patient information with long-term care providers? Please share your experience.

Beth Walsh

Clinical Innovation + Technology editor