Time Is Running Out – Find a Patient Portal now!

By Greg Maxfield | Published: May 9, 2013

Patient engagement is quickly becoming a requirement, whether it’s for HIPAA, HITECH Meaningful Use, Medical Home, or Accountable Care Organizations; Clinics are struggling with decisions on how to meet all these requirements. Providers are juggling many balls while operating an oncology practice and face many decisions being made under duress. Among those decisions, providers should find a solution that is focused on solving all these emerging trends and differentiates their brand. They should stop hesitating and making decisions at the last minute and find a product Now that is focused on Patient Engagement; a patient portal.

The Reasons for Choosing a Patient Portal: The Timeline Challenge

Up until now, clinics could meet the 20 meaningful use objectives, 15 core objectives and 5 menu objectives, without a portal. Patient portals were not required for clinics to meet Stage 1 meaningful use. A clinic only needed to demonstrate they were capable of performing certain tasks. However with stage 2, Meaningful Use will require clinics to actually perform those tasks. Those early adopters of portals are well on their way. Those clinics that elected to wait are now starting to face the challenge of when to make the decision to adopt a portal. In addition to HITECH, all providers are dealing with new initiatives emerging that would require the need for a portal. The challenge providers are facing is the timeline needed to meet all these objectives. As we approach September 2013 time is of the essence. Providers need to make a decision now and begin to implement their portal to be successful. Implementation,

Implementation

Patient Engagement & Adoption, and Outside Emerging Payment Pressures are three key reasons why providers must act now. Once the decision has been made on a portal, the implementation process can take several weeks. The biggest hurdle practices face is the “change management” required from their staff to be successful. The myth that patients are too old and do not have internet access resides in the back of the staffs minds. Debugging this myth with the staff is part of the change management required. This will fuel the implementation process and will take some time to work itself out. The good news is surveys show patients want access and will be involved. Until staff actually witness the power of the portal, hesitation will persist. Timeline: The implementation process can take approximately 2 months when factoring in portal set-up, training and staff commitment.

Patient Engagement & Adoption

Patient engagement is a key priority to a successful launch of a patient portal. Surveys show patients want access to their health information. A 2009 report in the Journal of Medicine Internet Research shows 75% want access online to medical records, lab results and appointment schedules. A 2010 survey by Deloitte Center for Health Solutions show 80% are interested in gaining access, through their physicians, to an integrated medical record containing their test results, physician’s visits, and other information. A 2012 Navigating Cancer survey says 75% were interested in having access to their medical records securely online and the top 2 portal features patients were interested in are: 1) viewing labs & tests and 2) online secure messaging with doctors. These surveys show the desire by patients to have access. Even though patients want electronic access, it will still take time to get the majority of patients on a portal. Timeline: With many oncology providers treating thousands of patients yearly, the adoption rate of the portal will take several months.

Emerging Payment Models

Clinics must have a portal for Stage 2 meaningful use by no later than 2014. Meaningful use is not the only reason for the need for a portal. There are several emerging requirements where a portal can help, but the timeframe is different from meaningful use. These new trends require a portal to be implemented sooner than 2014. One example of these conflicting timeframes is with the new HIPAA requirements. HIPAA now requires clinics to be able to deliver “on demand” a secure patient’s health record electronically by September 2013. Another example is around new Patient Centered Medical Home and ACO initiatives. Clinics are also preparing for the Commission on Cancer standards. Each one of these emerging initiatives have different start dates, but with the same common theme of patient engagement and giving patients electronic access to their health information and educational materials. A patient portal is the solution to solving all these emerging initiatives. To remove the stress of delivering on all these requirements, HITECH, HIPAA, Medical Home, and ACO, clinics should adopt a portal NOW.

The Clock is ticking and The Time to Act is now

Patient engagement is quickly becoming a requirement, whether it’s HIPAA, HITECH Meaningful Use, Medical Home, or Accountable Care Organizations, clinics must get ready now and make the decision to implement a patient portal. When factoring portal implementation, patient engagement and adoption, and emerging initiatives, it is easy to see the time to act is now. Any delay in the decision process puts the clinics ability to meet key deadlines in jeopardy. See timeline below.

What Patients Say About Their Navigating Cancer Patient Portal

By Trish Keaton | Published: April 30, 2013

There is a lot of talk about patient portals in the news. Practices need to provide patients with online access to their parts of their health records to meeting healthcare reform requirements. Now that practices are providing this service, we wanted to share what patients are saying about having access to a patient portal.

From a recent survey of over 1,100 responses from cancer patients fielded by Navigating Cancer, 89.2% value having secure, on-demand access to their health records. But what do patients say about the service? In the survey fielded, patients had the ability to share free form comments about their experiences on using the Navigating Cancer Patient Portal provided by their healthcare team.

Here is an except of some of the comments from cancer patients:

“It’s very convenient to look at my records on my own time. Late at night or early in the morning, when I’m unable to sleep, it’s nice to be able to see at a glance what my records are.”

“I love having the time to review the test results and then if I have any questions I can call or email the Doctor.”

“I also love having the ability to review the information I have input and make any additions or information in the privacy of your own home. Not having to fill out all those papers in a doctor’s office is a definite plus.”

“I feel more in control of my records and feel comfortable knowing the system is secure.”

“You can be more thoughtful and indicate more information because you do not feel rushed when filling in the information in the privacy of your own home.”

“I can compare lab results, then follow up [with my doctor] with questions if necessary.”

“Much easier to complete lengthy forms than writing them out.”

“I have a permanent record easy to review and update.”

“ I can review with family and not miss important information.”

“Being able to check appointment times is easy and helps schedule other activities.”

“I was able to see my blood test quicker. Any information on my condition is important and the quicker the better. Waiting for results is so stressful.”

“I can read comments from other cancer patients that help smooth my path to recovery.”

“I have multiple specialists and it is very helpful to have a patient portal system to help coordinate my care and ensure that all of my physicians have test results and medications changes. It is easy to print new lab results and take them to another physician, etc.”

“Glad to have this online resource and I check it every other day, even if I don’t get a notice new information is posted — reason: to follow discussions from other cancer patients.”

“Sharing experiences with others is informative and sometimes comforting. Cancer changes your life and the life of your family and the more information you can share the better. This site is close to home rather than the worse thing to do…surfing the net.”

“I like the fact that I can access information on my blood work and hopefully receive information on me.”

“I like the option of having access to my records whenever I need them. I can review my results at any time and as often as I want.”

“It is very helpful having my medical records in one place and accessible.”

“I don’t have to take notes at my visit”

“I am able to check my medications and appointment reminders.”

“[The Portal] allows me not have to rely on calls or missed calls to keep up with my treatment.”

“I have trouble keeping up with the paperwork so it helps to have it all in one place.”

“I’m trying to go paperless especially when it comes to my schedule and the number of various doctors’ appointments I have. Having the ability to look up my appointments thru the Portal keeps me on track and ensures I don’t miss an appointment.”

“Much easier than trying to fill out forms in a waiting room and also gives you time to track down information.”

“To me knowledge is power. The more I know the better I feel.”

Control, convenience, accessibility, security and efficiency seem to resonate with cancer patients from both the quantitative and qualitative information from the survey. Patients also said they like being able to connect with other cancer patients to learn and share. A recent study published in Health Affairs demonstrated that engaged patients received better outcomes and consumed less healthcare dollars. Patient Engagement is thought to be important to improving our ailing healthcare system and it’s apparent from the recent survey that many cancer patients are happy to receive tools, support, and information to be engaged through a patient portal.

Better Clinical Outcomes and Lower Costs Proven with Patient Engagement

By Gena Cook | Published: February 25, 2013

It is universally accepted that we have an unsustainable and broken healthcare model. It’s also becoming more and more a priority to engage patients in the their care as a way to improve healthcare.

New Rules Require Physicians To Provide Patient Engagement

Many providers today are worried about what’s required for them tomorrow, that it’s difficult sometimes to look up from their day to day responsibilities to see what’s coming. Patient engagement is quickly becoming a requirement, whether it’s HIPAA, HITECH Meaningful Use, Medical Home, and Accountable Care Organizations. Why does patient engagement matter? There’s a universal belief that patients are an important stakeholder in healthcare, after all they have the most at stake, and their involvement can lead to better healthcare outcomes at a better overall cost.

New Studies Prove Lower Costs and Better Clinical Outcomes with Patient Engagement

New studies recently published in HealthAffairs find that patients who are engaged in their own healthcare not only have better clinical outcomes but also have lower costs of healthcare.

By analyzing records for 33,163 patients, researchers at Fairview Health Services, a Minnesota health system, found that patients who were “least activated” — less involved in managing their health — had 8 percent higher costs than those who were actively engaged. While average costs were 8 percent higher in the first year, that figure shot up to 21 percent in the second year.

The definition of patient activation according to researcher Hibbard in the study: “understanding one’s role in the care process and having the knowledge, skills and confidence to take on that role”. Hibbard defines “engagement” as a broader term which includes, but isn’t limited to patient activation.

The Patient Activation score is calculated based on a patient-administered questionnaire that covers 13 areas describing their beliefs, knowledge and confidence in managing their own healthcare. Hibbard and colleague have published many articles asserting that patients with higher scores are more adherent to doctors’ instructions, engage in healthier behaviors, seek out health information, and get preventative care more often than people with lower scores.

A separate study also found that patients who received help from their providers such that they could share in decision making saw 12.5 percent fewer hospital admissions and lower healthcare costs.

“The evidence assembled in this issue of Health Affairs is a wake-up call for healthcare providers, who must recognize patient and family engagement as a top priority,” said George Bo-Linn, chief program officer of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, which funded the studies, in a statement. “This collective research clearly demonstrates that we must do a better job of helping patients and families to play an active role in their care, and we must redesign the healthcare system in ways that makes this possible.”

Engaging patients, however requires a fundamental cultural shift at the provider level.

“Further involving patients in decision making will mean some changes to how healthcare providers deliver care,” said Dominick Frosch, a Moore Foundation fellow, whose research is appearing in the February issue of Health Affairs. “Additional training, changes to team-based care models and incentives for adopting this new approach can go a long way toward enabling these changes in the current healthcare system.

Patient Engagement and Cancer Patients: Why, How, Who, When?

Cancer is one of the most complex and expensive therapeutic categories. With the personalization of medicines and the advent of diagnostic tools in cancer, the category will become even more complicated and expensive in the coming years. Understanding the right intervention for the right patient based on their unique disease characteristics will be increasingly complex. This is at a time when payors are trying to understand cancer costs in a more predictive way and are working on alternate payment models with physicians, such as medical home or accountable care organizations with shared savings components. Engaging cancer patients to take a more active role is a key component of medical home and accountable care organizations to improve care coordination, drive down costs, and develop a system of shared accountability.

To do this effectively, a practice will need a patient portal, or an electronic system for patient relationship management, to better coordinate and manage their patients. HITECH Meaningful Use Stage 2, which comes into effect in 2014, will require that providers provide patients with the ability to view, download and transmit their health information electronically. In addition, the new HIPAA laws, which go into effect September 21, 2013, also provide patients with additional rights to access their information, including electronically, and more provisions to ensure that their data is secure as well. To meet these requirements effectively, a portal will be required.

Healthcare professionals have two choices when selecting a portal, they can use the module provided by their EMR vendor or a best of breed portal provided by an independent portal company. The advantages of using the module from their EMR vendor is that it’s perceived to be “easy” and doesn’t require an additional system. Because it’s one database, interoperability is already built in and data can flow seamlessly as it’s essentially the same system. The downside of using the existing EMR system is that generally speaking, EMR vendors are only providing the basic features and functions needed to meet HITECH and aren’t truly thinking about the patient experience, patient engagement or the functionality needed to meet emerging trends such as medical home and accountable care organizations. Many providers aren’t happy with their EMR vendors, and a recent report indicates that many providers are looking to switch their EMR’s in 2013. If a practice isn’t happy with their current EMR vendors service, it would be foolish to invest in using a system, such as a patient portal, that is not core to their offering.

For best in breed solutions, the main negative is that you need to create connectivity via an interface with your EMR and your portal system. Make sure you understand your potential portals interfacing and talk to current customers. If they can prove they can create the right interface, then you can feel comfortable with moving forward. The benefits of the best in breed system is that the companies sole focus is patient engagement. They most likely will have a larger vision and understanding of healthcare beyond the next 12 months and will be supporting initiatives, such as medical home and ACO’s, that can catapult you ahead in your market and ensure that you are ready to meet the challenges ahead.

For providers, it’s not too early to start building your plan around patient engagement. With new HIPAA requirements this year, the time to start the process is now. Your staff will need time to transition to the new workflow requirements, and your patients will happily appreciate the new services you will be providing them. The benefits to starting now is that you will be ready to meet requirements and will start the path to better outcomes for your patients at a lower cost.

Notes:
1 Pfister, H, Ingargiola, S. Improving Patient Access and Engagement Ongoing Federal Effort. HITECH Answers. August 16, 2012

2 Hibbard, J, Greene, J. What The Evidence Shows about Patient Activation: Better Health Outcomes and Care Experiences; Fewer Data on Costs. Health Affairs. February 2013. 32:2: 207-2014

3 Hibbard, J, Greene, J. What The Evidence Shows about Patient Activation: Better Health Outcomes and Care Experiences; Fewer Data on Costs. Health Affairs. February 2013. 32:2: 207-2014

4 Hall, Susan D. Will 2013 be the ‘year of the great EHR vendor switch’? Dissatisfied physician practices considering other options, according to Black Book Rankings. FierceEMR. February 20, 2013

Releasing Health Information to Patients: My Observation in the Changing Attitudes of Healthcare Professionals

By Becky Walker | Published: January 17, 2013

What an interesting year it’s been as oncology practices started releasing health information to their patients using the Navigating Cancer patient portal. I witnessed a significant shift within clinics as their initial apprehension grew into a sense of relief and achievement. This was apparent while working with individual clinics and across the board with all portals launched in 2012.

Considering delivering records to patients is new, it’s not unusual for staff to have anxiety about releasing health information. Clinics tend to worry about the number of patient calls they’ll receive and how the staff will manage during their busy schedules. Understanding the clinics’ anxiety, Navigating Cancer developed a manual process to release health information, providing staff with ultimate control. During the first conversations clinics insisted the manual release process would be the only way to feel comfortable delivering records to patients, and therefore we built our application to support this view.

Yet after a very short period of time, clinics requested we build a process allowing records to release automatically, requiring staff action only when withholding a record was needed. Our development team quickly went to work building the automated functionality and launched it within weeks of the first request. Additionally they created the option to manually release a specific record type, while applying the automated release mode to all other records. Now with very little action required, clinics are providing patients with electronic access to their health records, and successfully meeting the Meaningful Use goal.

The option to automate the release process is currently offered with two settings: immediately when the record crosses over to the portal, or at the Meaningful Use deadline (3 business days). Clinics can apply either of the automated modes to any or all of the record categories available on the portal: medications, allergies, primary diagnoses, secondary diagnoses, vitals or lab results. With this flexibility, practices have chosen different variations to meet the needs of their clinic and patient population.

One aspect that doesn’t seem to vary is the appreciation patients relay when they begin to experience the benefits of using the portal. In a recent Navigating Cancer survey of 600 cancer patients, 87% said they valued having online access to their Clinical Visit Summaries. In this way patients have become more engaged in their health care and say they’re pleased with their clinic in providing a platform to do so. As for myself, the shift I observed this past year has been very inspiring! I look forward to a continued partnership with oncology practices as we all embrace the future growth of patient engagement in 2013.

Patient Engagement and the Patient Engagement Framework

By admin | Published: January 15, 2013

One of the many aspects of healthcare reform is the concept of patient centered care, whether it’s HITECH, medical home or accountable care organization. To provide patient centered care, healthcare professionals must engage with their patients and provide tools and resources to their patients.

About the Patient Engagement Framework

The Patient Engagement Framework is a model created to guide healthcare organizations in developing and strengthening their patient engagement strategies through the use of eHealth tools and resources.

The Framework is the result of nearly a year of collaboration by over 150 top experts in healthcare, technology and human behavior, and is designed to assist healthcare organizations of all sizes and in all stages of implementation of their patient engagement strategies. This Framework can help organizations create a path towards a more efficient and effective models of care that treat patients as partners instead of just customers.

The Framework Stages

This framework which the National eHealth Collaborative designed (http://www.nationalehealth.org/patient-engagement-framework) consists of 5 phases:

1) Inform Me

2) Engage Me,

3) Empower Me,

4) Partner with Me, and

5) Support My E-Community.

The Patient Engagement Framework

At Navigating Cancer, this model resonates with us and is a great way for us to think about how we build product features to help support healthcare professionals and patients to better partner in their care. We’re all about facilitating patient engagement, and this framework allows us to think about the steps and evolution of the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals.

So how are we doing today? Here is our own inventory of how we’re measuring up on the Patient Engagement Framework developed by the National eHealth Collaborative.

1) Inform Me – In this phase healthcare professionals demonstrate basic levels of patient engagement – providing simple tools which make healthcare more convenient and accessible for patients. We’re happy to report we meet all objectives in this first phase, but have taken it many step furthers. Instead of printable forms, we provide online forms that can be edited, saved, printed and provided to other healthcare professionals. We also provide a complete library of patient education and have new exiting changes to patient education that we will be launching soon! So stay tuned!

2) Engage Me – This phase is the next step in “maturity” from the “Inform Me” phase. This phase increases the amount of information available for the patient, like complete electronic health records including any labs or histology reports. Also available are medication reminders, calendar management, scheduling appointments, etc. Our portal provides patients with access to their health records (labs, medications, diagnosis, next appointment, etc…). Our “calendar” function allows patients to manage next appointments not only with their oncologist but they can also enter other appointments they want to manage. We have patient specific materials which help patients prepare for their next clinic visit. We’re happy to report that we’ve got you covered in the Engage Me stage.

3) Empower Me – We’re excited about this next stage in the framework. Although we have much of the needed functionality, we’re finding most healthcare professionals aren’t quite ready to provide some of these services yet–but many are getting closer and we’re excited to facilitate. This is where bi-directional communication can happen between healthcare professionals and patients. Our Daily Health Journal provides the opportunity to provide patient reported symptoms and side effects and our Follow Up Form alerts patients to fill out information healthcare providers need before upcoming appointments. These are the start of patients taking an active role in their care, providing much needed information and providers being better able to provide the right interventions in their care. We have about 80% of the functionality here—but have some improvements to make to be 100% ready to support you.

4) Partner With Me – More information and tools are provided to patients so they can truly become a “partner” with their healthcare team. Materials are available in the languages of the majority clinic population. Patient generated data is integrated into the EMR. Coordination of care is possible across different specialties and providers. We have some work completed here, for example we have a Spanish patient intake module but a lot of work to support this stage of care.

5) Support me E-Community – This is the apex of the patient engagement framework. Here the providers and patient have fully leveraged and implemented e-Health tools and data to connect all care team members to each other. This connectivity transcends the typical bricks and mortar of a physician office but extends to wherever the patient and his/her family support network may be. This phase allows for patients to communicate with “like” patients and their friends and family via secure messaging. Providers and patients are likely to be found participating in ACO’s and oncology medical homes. We’re happy to report that we have a lively community of patients interacting daily on Navigating Cancer and tools for patients to connect with their family, friends and caregivers. Inteoperability and additional data frameworks are important in this last and final stage and we’re working hard to deliver on that promise as well.

We thought you would like seeing this framework as you think about the stages of developing and engaging your patients. For our clinic partners, we’re here to support you and look forward to continuing to support your efforts as you work to engage your patients in new and exciting ways! We’re the leader in the market in terms of patient engagment and are working hard to continue to support the amazing efforts of the healthcare professionals and the patients we serve every day.

Patients Receiving Education Through Portal Technology Validated By Recent Survey

By Trish Keaton | Published: December 6, 2012

With healthcare reform, specifically HITECH and Meaningful Use, healthcare providers are now giving patients access to parts of their health record. This started for some practices in 2011 but it’s becoming commonplace in 2012. About 20% of practices are providing online access for their patients via a secure patient portal, the majority of practices are printing out clinical summaries and handing them to patients.

Navigating Cancer conducted a survey where 1,220 cancer patients responded who have been invited to a secure patient portal from their clinic to understand patient preferences and satisfaction around their new health online access.

Regarding access to their health information, 89% of patients receiving a clinic summary after each visit value this information and find it to be accurate. 87% of patients say it is helpful and informative. “Being a clinician, having access to my records and tests is very important to me. It enables me to be a partner in my care, and accurately share my information with my other healthcare providers and family.” said Susanna S.

The research also showed that patients want more than just access to their health information, but also want personalized patient education and other tools to manage their care. Over 74% surveyed said that they will most likely read information about their diagnosis on the portal and over 57% will use the calendar to keep track of appointments and other important events. The survey also found that 83% of patients are interested in tracking their symptoms and side effects to be able to communicate with a doctor. Marie C. provided the following feedback: “I can go back and track the ups and downs of my blood counts which I always get a copy of. Having them online makes this easier. Thanks.”

In 2014, not only will it be required for healthcare professionals to give patient electronic access to their health information via a portal but healthcare professionals will be required to use a certified EHR, such as Navigating Cancer’s Patient Engagement Portal, to provide specific patient education. A patient portal provides the opportunity to improve the patient education process. And the research demonstrates that of the 1,220 cancer patients who responded, 2/3 are interested in reading personalized to their disease via their portal. This provides not only the opportunity to educate patients in a better way but an opportunity to help the healthcare professional as well.

To learn more about how Navigating Cancer’s Patient Education Services, please contact Randy Colvin at randy@navigatingcancer.com

Patient Survey Results Validate The Benefits of a Secure Patient Portal

By Trish Keaton | Published: December 6, 2012

With healthcare reform, and specifically HITECH, healthcare professionals are now giving patients’ access to parts of their health information either via printing out paper or through a secure patient portal. In 2014, an online secure portal will be required for practices to give patients electronic access to their health information to view and download. In November of 2012, Navigating Cancer conducted a survey inviting new and returning patients that have been invited to a secure clinic portal to give their feedback about their experiences and the access of their health information via a patient portal. Of the 1,220 patients that completed the survey, over 66% had already registered and joined the portal. Of the patients that did not register, many did not know about the availability of the portal and have since requested access of their clinic to be invited to their patient portal.

Overwhelmingly, the research demonstrates that an on-line portal is not only useful but the features of the portal are very important to patients managing their health care. One patient’s feedback of “about time” says it all. The majority of patients’ surveyed value the information, tools and support that their clinics are providing them with a secure patient portal and access to their health information.

The research showed that patients want more than just access to their health information, but also want personalized patient education and other tools to manage their care. Over 74% surveyed said that they will most likely read information about their diagnosis on the portal and over 57% will use the calendar to keep track of appointments and other important events. The survey also found that 83% of patients are interested in tracking their symptoms and side effects to be able to communicate with a doctor. Marie C. provided the following feedback:, “I can go back and track the ups and downs of my blood counts which I always get a copy of. Having them online makes this easier. Thanks.”

More than half of patients expressed an interest in the social tools of connecting with others, demonstrating the value of providing these services for patients. 58% of patients said they may be willing to share their experiences or participate in discussions. While a little over half surveyed would like to join a group with others of similar diagnosis.

With the new requirements, clinics have the ability to enhance their services to patients through providing an online patient portal. While security is really important to 15% of patients, accessibility was also really important. As Sandra G. communicated, “(The Patient Portal) Makes me feel like someone is really keeping track of me, little ole, me. I like the fact that it is an online history of my care that I can access anytime I want.” At the end of the day, patient care is a healthcare providers business. It’s great to hear that their perception of their care is improved through the enhanced service a patient portal provides.

Final Stage 2 Meaningful Use rules

By Brendon Smyth | Published: September 5, 2012

The final Stage 2 Meaningful Use rules were released last week by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the focus has not changed from the proposed rules, which is to move providers along the path from showing they have the ability to use electronic health record (EHR) technology in a meaningful way to actually doing it.

To that end, the measures have increased to require more care coordination, better clinical decision support, more information exchange, and more patient engagement. The chart below outlines the Stage 2 objectives, the measure for each, and the changes from Stage 1.

Technology's Role in the Oncology Medical Home

By Gena Cook | Published: July 30, 2012

Oncology Medical Home: A New Model to Improve the Healthcare Delivery System

As the healthcare system transitions to a more patient centered approach, new care models have been developed to provide coordinated care across organizations to reduce costs and improve care. One such model is the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH), a team based health care delivery model led by a physician that provides comprehensive and continuous medical care to patients with the goal of obtaining maximized health outcomes.

Medical home models may allow better access to health care, increased satisfaction with care, and improved health. Care coordination is an essential component of the PCMH and requires additional resources such as health information technology, and appropriately trained staff to provide coordinated care through team-based models. Additionally, payment models that compensate PCMHs for their effort devoted to care coordination activities and patient-centered care management that fall outside the face-face patient encounter may help encourage coordination. Payers are actively moving toward paying oncology clinics differently who follow this approach.

As practices are starting to implement technology to meet Meaningful Use patient centered care requirements, they should also consider how that technology could be used to address new medical home models as well.

New Commission on Cancer Standards Provide More Patient Centered Care

By Brendon Smyth | Published: June 28, 2012

New Commission on Cancer Standards Provide More Patient Centered Care

In the Fall of 2011, the American College of Surgeon’s (ACoS) Commission on Cancer(CoC) released new accreditation standards for oncology practices. While the existing standards outlined specific guidelines to plan the treatment of patients with cancer to achieve the best possible outcomes, they didn’t address patient needs outside of direct intervention. As with most of the new health care rules and regulations, a more patient-centered approach is the driving factor influencing the new guidelines.