Author: Glen Taylor, PhD
HIMSS is devoted to the “optimal use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare.” With nearly 20,000 participants and the mammoth Georgia World Congress Center filled with vendor exhibits, the HIMSS10 conference was a lot to take in, even in four days. All forms of information technology related to healthcare and healthcare institutions were on display.The healthcare industry is one of the largest segments of the US economy, and healthcare has dominated the news this year. Therefore, it was fitting that March began with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference March 1-4 in Atlanta, GA.
INI was one of two Avaya DevConnect solutions partners who were invited to co-present with Avaya in the booth. The applications on display were an impressive mix of technologies from both Avaya and the former Nortel.
INI presented its Secure Patient Messaging application which fit well with the theme of the Avaya display. Built on Avaya Voice Portal’s outdial capabilities, the Secure Patient Messaging application is designed to provide a clinician with an easy method to deliver a personalized message securely to a patient or client.
In Secure Patient Messaging’s optimal implementation, the healthcare facility’s patient information system presents a clickable link that the clinician uses to leave a message for the patient. When the clinician clicks the link, the application rings the clinician’s phone and allows him or her to record a message. Since the click comes while a specific patient’s record is being accessed, the application knows who the message is for and can access the patient’s contact information. At a predetermined time, the application calls the patient and states that there is a message from the healthcare provider. The patient is asked to enter validation information such as the last four digits of his or her SSN and a four digit “day & month” of birth. These pieces of information ensure that the message is being delivered securely and meet HIPAA requirements, and also permit the application to log successful delivery of the message.
The advantages to the clinician and the healthcare practice are many. Routine information delivery such as test report results, health status information, etc. that does not require discussion with the patient can be efficiently recorded at the clinician’s convenience and delivered at the time the patient is most likely to be available. The clinician enjoys the personal touch advantage of delivering the information in his or her own voice without taking the time to dial the call, engage in pleasantries and/or get drawn into a prolonged conversation. Healthcare staff can know which patients were contacted and which weren’t allowing for other appropriate follow up.
Note: Although this application was designed with the needs of healthcare providers specifically in mind, the basic concept is easily adapted to other contexts where secure message delivery is important.
For more information on INI Secure Patient Messaging and other INI applications, please contact INI at sales@interactivenw.com or 800.732.3236.