The Institute for Health Conference In Beverly Hills 2012 and A Visit to MMRGlobal Discussing MMR Pro Systems

Occasionally I get out from behind the desk and every I do I wonder why I don’t do this more often:)  My first stop today was to attend

the second day of the iHT2 conference and take notes.  The speaking format was great with panels discussing various areas of healthcare.  The last session was a discussion on security with healthcare and it was almost humorous as the group was self moderating, in other words very diplomatically they all chimed in and yes the moderator did get a couple questions in and it was informative and everyone there had a lot to say. 

I did ask the question about the security of 3rd party vendors, stating in the latest breaches reported it appears that the hospitals have a good handle on it but it’s the 3rd parties today that seem to have the problems.  Here’s a good example of one at Stanford Medical from last year.  You know you can’t blame hospitals for getting a little irritated to say the least when this occurs.  In short with all on the forum, everyone agreed that this is a bit of a “black hole” with security in healthcare and everyone said it needs work with emphasis. 

Security Breach at Stanford Hospital - Patient Found it - Not the Fault of the Medical Records System but Rather a Careless 3rd Party Analytics/Billing Company

I wished I could have made day one as they screened the documentary “Escape Fire”. The movie has been screened all over the US with working solutions in some areas of healthcare.  I really do like the format of the iHT2 conferences as everyone leaves their “expert” hat paradigms outside the door and some real intelligent and educational items get discussed. 

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After the conference I paid a visit over to MMRGlobal who is a sponsor for the Medical Quack to see what was new in the world of PHRs. I talked with CEO Robert Lorsch and we are pictured here in an area where they are customizing and preparing MMRPro units for immediate delivery.  You can find out more about MyMedicalRecord PHRs and the MMR Pro system for physicians at their website.  MMRPro is a bundled solution that makes document management with medical records simple and easy.  So far in my travels I have not yet seen a doctor’s office that is without a fax and other document management tools so MMRPro takes all of the separate items and puts them together under one roof with a system that coordinates with the PHR (personal health record system they offer.  You can see in the image below, Bob was showing me the units that are supplied with the system and there was a roomful ready to be shipped out. 

Here’s a bit of basic information about the MMRPro system for physicians:

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I always like to visit places of business who’s artwork décor includes ducks and MMR was no exception in that department too. <grin>.   Being the "animal lover” I am it’s also worth a mention that they own another company called “Dancing Paws” with great looking products for dogs and you may have seen them in Trader Joes.  If you dog’s breath stinks, they have a solution for that and mine is getting one of their “green bones”   Actually they will send you a bone if you write to them for a sample for you, and your dog to try out. 

All in all my day out here was very educational today from everything from security on healthcare systems to bad breath with dogs that we can fix:) 

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Allscripts States They Are Considering Sale to Third Party–Follow the Code Technologies To Think About Caradigm As An Educated Speculation Being A Potential Match

It seems like it’s time to talk about Allscripts again.  Back before the company purchased Eclipsys there was work done between Microsoft and Eclipsys to integrate with Amalga, a former Microsoft product before the creation of Caradigm, the combined GE and Microsoft company that was created not too long ago.  Here’s some back links for additional information.  Eclipsys has a bit of dot net applications along with Windows Foundation.  Since Caradigm was created, Amalga has moved from Microsoft to Caradigm.

Caradigm–New Name for New Microsoft GE Healthcare Company

 

Eclipsys and Microsoft To Integrate Sunrise Enterprise Suite With Amalga Unified Intelligence System

Now back in August Allscripts announced they had turned to Microsoft to get some help with the code since both Allscripts and Eclipsys are written with Microsoft technologies.    Amalga is kind of out there without an “in-house” EMR so perhaps a good question to ask at this point is whether or not Caradigm could be a possible contender as they know the technologies of both Eclipsys and Allscripts and you can see. 

Allscripts Turns to Microsoft To Expand Their Application Development

Actually this is the second time for me to make mention of this  possibility as I did so a month ago when posting relative to the New York hospital awards to Epic, link below. I think the long and short of all of this is that “code help is needed” and if you follow the technologies this would make sense to get the work done and keep value for shareholders, although who knows who else might show up. 

I should mention this again for all my layman readers, “the short order code kitchen burned down a few years ago” which translates to the complexities of healthcare software today and also means it doesn’t happen over night.  It does make sense to work with related or same technologies to keep the code writing down to a minimum when possible.  This is not to say that different technologies make it impossible by any means, but usually means it takes a lot longer time and more complexities with debugging too:)

AllScripts Files Complaint With Review Board At Health and Hospitals Corporation Protesting Award of Contract to Epic Medical Records For New York City’s Public Hospital System

The CEO said noise in the market contributed to the reduction of stock value but again I still see if as a need for some updated code work.   There’s still the situation of the old “MyWay” EMR out there which was recently settled with Aprima as far as clients being able to update.  “MyWay” was the old Mysis system and when Allscripts merged with Eclipsys, Mysis sold all their Allscripts share to allow this to take place.  Aprima is offering what is called a “rescue plan” for those wanting to upgrade from the old Mysis system which will not offer the ability to attest for meaningful use and handle the new ICD 10 formats.  Allscripts licensed the code from Aprima so they (Aprima) should have the advantage of modifying an existing product, and again the Allscripts offer is also there for an upgrade for present MyWay clients to the new software which would allow for meaningful use attestation and is certified. 

For more information, or to sign up for the Aprima Rescue Plan^TM for customers of Allscripts MyWay^TM, visit www.aprima.com/rescue, call 866-960-6890, option 7, or email rescue@aprima.com.

So again just following technologies, code and time for rewrites, Caradigm would be the best fit it appears and it would also give them an in house EMR to sell and and test Amalga with as that product continues to grow.  It seems like they would know sooner what to do here versus some of the private equity firms mentioned as possible suitors, and who knows ,maybe I am out to lunch <grin>.  BD

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Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. confirmed Thursday that is evaluating the possibility of selling itself to a third party, sending its shares up as much as 10 percent in after-hours trading.

The Chicago-based provider of electronic health record services said it made the decision to evaluate "strategic alternatives" after unidentified third parties expressed interest in the company. Bloomberg reported in October that Allscripts was considering bids from several private equity firms, including Blackstone Group LP, Carlyle Group LP and Silver Lake Management LLC.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-1109-allscripts-20121109,0,6858255.story

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Humana Joins the Health IT Business With the Purchase of Certify–Software Platform for HIE Information Exchange For Medical Records

Humana is a little later to the game with technology purchases as United has been doing it for years and made big profits with their algorithmic business models, while not always popular with consumers as the parameters of what gets covered and allowed is pretty touch.  Aetna has joined in with like type purchases in the last couple years and now with Humana they are looking at further interest in the HIE game, health information exchange.  When this is all done will there be any HIE companies not owned by insurers? 

The whole idea and goal is to be able to securely exchange patient medical records.  If you visit their website you can see a lit of partners to include the Direct Project that they work with, Oracle and Cerner are a couple of others.  Technology centers with medical licenses, is this where we are going <grin> with a business model provided by health insurance companies to keep profits in line for shareholders?   BD

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The Louisville-based insurer Humana has acquired Certify Data Systems, a health information exchange vendor, on undisclosed terms.

Humana executives said they were interested in Certify's "Health Logix" platform, which allows clinical information exchange across various electronic health record systems and is offered in multiple configurations, with cloud-based options.

Amid the search for cost savings, the use of new care models like ACOs and business diversification, Humana is the third insurer in recent years to purchase an HIE technology maker. Last January, Aetna completed the $500 million acquisition of the health IT vendor Medicity, not long after UnitedHealth Group's Ingenix division bought Axolotl.  

http://www.govhealthit.com/news/insurer-humana-buys-hie-vendor-certify

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FDA Approves Xeljanz From Pfizer for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Pill Format

The treatment is a twice a day pill and the competition right now from Abbott is an injectable drug, Humira.    Just because it is a pill formula though, don’t expect any big price breaks as the cost would run around 25k a year, some expensive pills and priced pretty close to what the injectable drug would cost.  The drug has some “real” side effect though to consider with risks for infections and even cancer and other complications.  BD

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U.S. regulators on Tuesday approved Pfizer Inc's Xeljanz treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, one of the company's most potentially lucrative experimental drugs, which is now poised to compete with Abbott Laboratories Inc's top-selling Humira.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it had approved Pfizer's pill for patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who have not benefited from or been able to tolerate the standard oral treatment, methotrexate. Xeljanz can be used by itself or in combination with methotrexate and certain other standard treatments

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Pfizer's drug works by blocking molecules called Janus kinases which are linked to joint inflammation. The drug was associated with an increased risk of serious infections, tuberculosis, cancers and lymphoma. Humira, Embrel and Remicade also make patients more prone to serious infections and other complications.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/07/fda-approves-new-arthritis-drug/#ixzz2BbrbZJ7q

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FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg Scheduled to Testify Before Lawmakers on NECC Meningitis Infections

The House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will both be holding hearings regarding the NECC meningitis case.  The House hearing is first, followed by the Senate.  The investigation will hedge around past issues and violation by NECC and they have also been invited to speak if they wish. 

Ameridose Sister Company of NECC Company Linked to Meningitis Outbreak – FDA Recall for “All” Their Drugs Which May Worsen Existing Shortage of Sterile Injectable Drugs

Perhaps this could make a point of the FDA needing funds to be able to investigate and and take action as needed as they don’t have the staff at present and there is talk to cut funds to both the FDA and NIH.  This could also stand to open full discussion about giving  the agency more control over compounding companies.   BD

One More Good Reason to Tax the Data Sellers– Create Additional Funding for the NIH and FDA From Sources That Otherwise Are Too Greedy to Share & Contribute

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Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg is scheduled to testify before lawmakers on the outbreak of fungal meningitis that has killed 30 nationwide.
The outbreak has been linked to tainted steroid injections distributed by the New England Compounding Center (NECC), a Framingham, Mass.-based drug compounder that has now surrendered its license and recalled its products.
Federal health officials first learned of the outbreak in late September, and Congress has been pushing for details while in recess. 

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/public-global-health/265975-fda-chief-to-testify-on-meningitis-outbreak-at-house-hearing

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