Business Process Outsourcing Goes Mission-Critical HCT Project Volume 4, January 30, 2007
In today's ‘no margin, no mission’ healthcare environment, an outsourcing vendor able to combine business process expertise, global delivery and thorough knowledge of healthcare issues is a provider's best ally in transforming back-office support services into a competitive advantage.
Elizabeth Guyton, Accenture

 Transforming Healthcare With Connected EHRs HCT Project Volume 4, January 30, 2007
Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet and the development of IP-based networking technologies.

 EHR Usage: A Compendium of Recent Studies Performed by KLAS HCT Project Volume 3, November 14, 2005
Product capability versus market penetration by product use suggests old habits are today’s principal roadblocks for EHR adoption and use.
Karen Ondo, KLAS Enterprises, Kent Gale, KLAS Enterprises

 Panasonic Case Study: Alacare Home Health & Hospice HCT Project Volume 3, November 14, 2005
Alacare Home Health & Hospice™ understands that caring for those in need while delivering outstanding service is essential to their organization’s success. That’s why they have equipped their visiting nurses with laptops.

 Panasonic Case Study: Gaston Memorial Hospital HCT Project Volume 3, November 14, 2005
Gaston Memorial Hospital is a 435-bed, independent not-for-profit hospital that serves its community in North Carolina. The hospital provides an expansive, surgical suite with all the latest advancements. And like many other hospitals, Gaston has decided to add mobile PCs to improve the quality of care their patients receive from their hospital. That’s why Gaston Memorial chose to deploy the ultra-portable Panasonic Toughbook® MDWDs (Mobile Data Wireless Display) to Emergency Room staff. Paul Piendle, an emergency physician for Gaston Memorial, explains, “Obviously you become very dependent upon your equipment, as we are at Gaston Memorial, and if that equipment were to go down we have to revert to a much slower paper-based system for tracking patients, retrieving lab tests, etc.”

 Selecting Technologies for an EHR HCT Project Volume 3, November 14, 2005
Evaluating technologies for an EHR is very different from choosing technologies for an individual organization.
Joe Poats, Accenture

 Technology Devices for Healthcare HCT Project Volume 3, November 14, 2005
In the evolving world of electronic healthcare record keeping, technology devices are the key to getting the right information to the right people at the right time.
Sarah Danielson, Accenture, Charles Colander, Northwestern Memorial Hospital

 A Digital Imaging Transformation In Radiology Departments HCT Project Volume 2, July 17, 2004
In the near future, institutions will turn to health care IT technologies to deliver the tools needed to produce and distribute information that directs the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Michael W. Jackman, Kodak Health Imaging

 A Success Story HCT Project Volume 2, July 17, 2004
The Highmark/UPMC success story is a rare example of a payer and a provider coming together to work as one system with shared process design and collaborative IT development.
Tom Tabor, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Deborah Rice, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Augusta Kairys, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kathleen Colwell, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dan Drawbaugh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Don Riefner, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Cliff Denholm, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Mary Edwards, Accenture, Wendy L. Wilson, M.D., Accenture, Christopher Bonus, Capgemini

 Dr. Bill Crounse and David Lubinski Explain How Adaptive Design Can Improve Health Care Systems HCT Project Volume 2, July 17, 2004
Never before have we had the technology and devices that can actually give clinicians a tool that improves safety and quality, but also makes them more productive.
David Lubinski, Microsoft Corporation, Bill Crounse, M.D., Microsoft Corporation

 Power Protection Systems: Protecting Investments in Capital Health Care Equipment HCT Project Volume 2, July 17, 2004
Even with backup generators, medical equipment is still at risk for power interruptions during transfer time – risking the health of patients and the quality of medical data, and damaging costly, sensitive systems.
Ken Appelt, Powerware

 Scheduling Software Supports Health Care's Fine Balance HCT Project Volume 2, July 17, 2004
A challenge for health care is the efficient and harmonious interaction between the stakeholder entities – meeting the needs of each, while reducing frustration factors and achieving expectations.
Barry M. Rundquist, Unibased Systems Architecture Inc., Jacque L. Fryday, B.S., C.I.S.M., Independent Consultant

 Selling Debt: An Alternative For Aging Accounts Receivables HCT Project Volume 2, July 17, 2004
Health care receivables/credit managers can sell old accounts receivables for cash that had previously been written off as uncollectable.
Vilis Ozols, CR Software, Algis Penkiunas, MEDCLR, Walter Dedrick, Independent Consultant

 The Financial Impact of an Emergency Department Information System HCT Project Volume 2, July 17, 2004
Implementing an EDIS can have far-reaching and multilayered positive effects on your medical center’s ROI.
Michael B. Hocker, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., Duke University Medical Center

 The Importance of Stakeholders Talking and Listening Together HCT Project Volume 2, July 17, 2004
There can be no reform unless all components of the system understand how each other’s business models work together and at cross purposes.
William L. Bruning, Mid-America Coalition on Health Care

 ABCs of Partnering HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
The resources, knowledge, and experience required for a successful clinical transformation initiative are immense. So are the risks. Only a collaborative, “partnering” relationship among the system buyer, the system vendor, and the clinical transformation consultant can devote sufficient time and resources, and the right methodologies to drive the Clinical Information System to its desired future state.
Jay Toole, Capgemini, Carol Belmont, Capgemini, Kathleen Meredith, R.N., M.S.N, M.B.A., Capgemini, Robert B. Williams, M.D., Capgemini

 Are You Ready? HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
Before heading full-speed in the direction you think you want to go, be sure you know where you are coming from. Assessing the readiness of your organization to adopt new processes and technologies is a vital first step that prevents unpleasant and costly surprises later on.
Joe Poats, Accenture, Michele Salvaneschi, R.N., Capgemini

 Clinical Information Systems: Enterprise Versus Departmental Solutions in Obstetrics HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
The computer industry has not yet developed systems that incorporate specialized departmental functionality with standard CIS applications such as CPOE, clinical documentation, and automated medication administration records. Until integrated solutions are available, health care organizations need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of using departmental systems in conjunction with their enterprise clinical system.
Helen Jesse, R.N., M.S., Capgemini

 Future Directions: Where Is the Technology Heading? HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
A Web Services Framework (WSF) for designing clinical information systems promises to dramatically improve the efficiency and effectiveness with which health care information is delivered and consumed. WSF is the future of clinical information systems, and this future is available now.
Chris Brandt, Capgemini, Ashif Jiwani, Accenture

 How to Organize HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
Building a computer information system from the ground up is analogous to undertaking the construction of a new hospital building in terms of expense and complexity. Careful planning is essential. Charters and detailed work plans are a good place to start the planning process.
Manuel Lowenhaupt, M.D., Accenture, David Friedman, Capgemini

 Interview with John Glaser, ABCs of Evaluating Technologies Worth Your Investment HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
John Glaser, CIO of Partners HealthCare, explains the ABCs of evaluating which technologies are worth your investment.
John Glaser, M.D., Partners HealthCare

 Negotiating a Success-Oriented Contract HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
The complexity and high costs of new information technologies merit more strategic agreements to ensure value realization. HCO managers and analysts should approach contracts with the objective of getting full value from new systems. Clear vendor agreements on a host of issues from initial system costs, to help with clinician adoption, are crucial.
Richard D. Mager, Dearborn Advisors, LLC

 Question & Answer with Bill Spooner, VP and CIO of Sharp Healthcare HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
Barry Jacobs talks to Bill Spooner about the necessity of multiple products and vendors, and end-user participation.
Bill Spooner, Sharp HealthCare

 Selecting a Clinical IT Vendor HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
Correct vendor selection can accelerate and enhance the success of a clinical transformation implementation. Thinking through the selection criteria and process is key to reaping the maximum benefit from clinical transformation.
Robert Reese, Capgemini, Susan Abla, Capgemini, Christopher VanPelt, Capgemini

 Special Section: Clinical Documentation HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
Clinical documentation is often viewed as a necessary evil: a cause for overtime work, an incomplete patchwork of irrelevant or out-of-date data, or a task done to avoid legal or regulatory consequences. In this section, we make the case for designing, building, and implementing automated clinical documentation according to a new paradigm, one with the power to transform clinical practice and yield major benefits to health care organizations, clinicians, and patients.
Carol Belmont, Capgemini, Bonnie Wesorick, R.N., M.S.N., CPM Resource Center, Helen Jesse, R.N., M.S., Capgemini, Michelle R. Troseth, R.N., M.S.N., CPM Resource Center, David Brown, M.A., Eclipsys

 Special Section: Technology Overview HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
In this section, John Quinn offers an in-depth examination of core information systems. His discussion includes a look at the management of large hospital information systems, core building components and systems integration, and data management and architecture.
John Quinn, Accenture

 The Challenge of Vendors' Products HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
Health care buyers of clinical information solutions need to understand how vendors develop, implement, maintain, and update their software in order to make intelligent buying decisions. They need to know which problems with vendor solutions can be avoided, which ones can be mitigated, and which ones must be accepted and managed.
John Quinn, Accenture

 Top 10 Pitfalls HCT Project Volume 1, July 01, 2003
Implementing an advanced clinical information system is a complex undertaking, fraught with dangerous pitfalls. Knowing the most common fallacies and misconceptions can help decision makers avoid costly mistakes.
Manuel Lowenhaupt, M.D., Accenture