ATLANTA, June 30 GA-eLifeCare-med.data
ATLANTA, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- eLifeCare Solutions, a developer of
healthcare technologies, announced today the successful implementation of an
interoperable solution to give healthcare providers access to comprehensive
patient data. The Phase I pilot is being deployed in the community of
Beaufort, SC, with multiple healthcare providers who are sharing patient data
via eLifeCare's consolidated medical record.
Since many patients receive medical care from several different healthcare
providers, the ability to aggregate the dispersed data and provide a central
location for HIPAA-compliant access will greatly improve patient care. In
contrast to Personal Health Records (PHRs) on the market today, eLifeCare's
consolidated medical record contains medical data collected from each
provider's Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, making the information
available the most accurate and complete. This ensures the provider is
receiving data entered by a medical professional, rather than information
offered by the patient. As the patient sees a new healthcare provider,
receives treatment from a hospital or requires emergency medical attention,
providers in the eLifeCare network can view accurate and current medical
information, including diagnosis, treatments, allergies, medications,
procedures and lab orders.
"Giving multiple healthcare providers access to the most current medical
information about a patient will greatly improve the overall quality of care
for that individual," said Rick Toomey, CEO of Beaufort Memorial Hospital, the
first hospital to be testing the solution. "Additionally, the likelihood of a
misdiagnosis or conflicting treatment is dramatically reduced if we know the
patient's most recent medical history."
Access to a patient's consolidated medical record is secured through
several measures. Patients are accurately identified through a biometric
system when they become members, and each time they receive treatment at a
participating healthcare provider. Providers gain a view of a record only
after securing the patient's consent.
Mark Kolbush, CEO of Lowcountry Medical Group commented, "Not only does
this new capability offer significant benefit to the physicians in a single
geographic community like Beaufort, it also can be available to healthcare
providers anywhere the patient may travel. As long as a provider has the
ability to biometrically identify the patient, the patient can grant access to
their medical history."
"eLifeCare's solution allows us to spend more time with our patients,"
added Dr. Vinnie Rhodes, a family practice physician at Lowcountry Medical
Group. "With this consolidated medical record in place, we can spend our time
on treatment rather than collecting or validating patient medical history."
The next two phases of the pilot will be deployed in July and early
August, offering additional functional enhancements. However, as soon as Phase
I capability testing is complete, the solution will move into production with
an increase in the number of patient consolidated medical records and
participating healthcare providers.
"We anticipate this technology to accelerate the integration of PHRs as
more healthcare providers and patients become participating members of the
system," said Kent LaRoque, CEO of eLifeCare Solutions. "The fact that
individuals will be able to receive a higher quality of medical care
regardless of where they are is a tremendous benefit."
ABOUT eLifeCare Solutions
eLifeCare Solutions, headquartered in Atlanta Georgia, is a developer and
marketer of technology solutions and services for the healthcare industry that
automate and improve patient billing and collections, and provide
comprehensive and current patient data for health benefit sponsors, patients,
healthcare providers and payers. The innovative eON(TM) suite of products and
services work together to improve the overall quality of patient care, lower
costs and improve operational efficiency. For more information about eLifeCare
visit www.elifecare.us .
ABOUT Beaufort Memorial Hospital
Beaufort Memorial Hospital, a non-profit, acute-care hospital licensed for
197 beds, is the largest hospital in Beaufort County, SC. It is fully
accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO), and boasts a quality medical staff of more than 150
board-certified physicians and a full range of specialties in Beaufort and
select specialties in a satellite office in Bluffton, SC. In 2000, Beaufort
Memorial signed an agreement with Duke University Medicine to develop
comprehensive heart and cancer programs. Beaufort Memorial is the only
Duke-affiliated hospital in South Carolina. For more information about
Beaufort Memorial Hospital visit www.bmhsc.org .
ABOUT Lowcountry Medical Group
Lowcountry Medical Group (LMG) is a multi-specialty practice located in
Beaufort, SC. LMG offers primary care including both family practice and
internal medicine. LMG offers a variety of specialists including GYN, GI,
Nephrology, Oncology, Orthopedics, and Cardiology. LMG also has a full
laboratory and imaging center including MRI, CT, Ultrasound, and Nuclear
Medicine. For more information about Lowcountry Medical Group visit
www.lcmedicalgroup.com .
SOURCE eLifeCare Solutions
