EHRs go beyond treatment – Social Security Pilot Program with Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston

The Social Security Administration also has an interest and has a project in place to automate the process for obtaining authorized information from electronic health records. With over 2 million claims for disability benefits each year, the process is becoming a bit overwhelming. The records now have to arrive by mail and sometimes takes months. The Social Security Office will choose a standard format to be used by disability examiners, who currently spend hours searching for specific information, and all the files are different, depending on the hospital or physician copies of the records sent.

“By the end of August or September, we will actually be requesting real data from [Beth Israel Deaconess] and receiving real live data back, which we can use to [fold] into the medical record,” Somers said. SSA officials say they envision being able to use the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) to send authorizations to providers electronically and automatically receive the records in return.

Dr. Halamka has done some really tremendous work with Health Care IT, everywhere I go on the web, he’s there, whether it’s the daily news or looking at an Adobe Case study with document management, Blog Talk Radio, he’s there! Perhaps one day Washington? It goes to show how far organization and innovative use of technology can take you. BD

Americans are often asked to supply medical records when they enroll at a school, seek to obtain disability benefits or apply for certain jobs.
Having those records available electronically would make it easier for patients to access them, as long as there is a process in place for authorizing their release from various health care providers’ systems.

SSA officials say they envision being able to use the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) to send authorizations to providers electronically and automatically receive the records in return. They are launching a pilot project that involves Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and they are participating in trial implementations of the NHIN this year.
Not coincidentally, Dr. John Halamka, chairman of the Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel and a prominent health IT advocate, is Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s chief information officer.

http://www.govhealthit.com/print/4_18/news/350391-1.html