NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Safety Net Connect (SNC), a leading provider of innovative healthcare technology that increases care coordination and access to evidence-based care, is pleased to announce that the company’s eConsult technology – a specialty care referral system that enables secure, online collaboration between primary care physicians and specialists – also offers an effective interoperability workaround for providers seeking to achieve Meaningful Use (MU) Objective 5 under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) EHR Incentive Program.
MU Objective 5 requires providers with 100 or more referrals during the MU yearly reporting period to send a Continuity of Care Document or “CCD” (which is generated from a certified EHR system) via a secure, electronic exchange for 10% of their patients. Despite widespread adoption of EHR systems by primary care providers in Los Angeles County, many challenges remain in the secure transmission of CCDs, including:
- Limited interoperability in health information technology (HIT)
- Lack of a health information exchange (HIE) network
- Many specialists have not yet adopted EHRs
Community health centers (CHCs) may be further challenged with financial barriers. The Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC), the largest regional association and advocacy group for nonprofit and free clinics in California, worked with Safety Net Connect to utilize the eConsult system (which Is widely employed by public and private healthcare providers and systems across LA County) as an effective workaround for community health centers in meeting MU Objective 5 requirements.
“eConsult already plays a critical role for underserved and safety net populations in Los Angeles, by increasing access to specialty care at our community and federally qualified health centers,” says Aisha Iqbal, Director of HealthIT at CCALAC. “And by providing a secure method for delivery of CCDs, the platform is further supporting these centers in achieving their mission of providing the highest quality and continuity of care.”
Using the heath center’s existing workflow to minimize impact to providers and staff – the CCD is generated using the center’s certified EHR technology, then attached and securely transmitted within the eConsult system. Utilizing the eConsult CCD workaround, LA county-based CHCs and specialists are successfully sharing health information to improve care coordination and provide the highest quality patient care.
“Community and federally-qualified health centers serve as the frontline for our nation’s underserved and underinsured populations,” says Chris Cruttenden, President of SNC. “We are honored to support their important work, and pleased to be able to provide a bridge solution that enables them to qualify for mission-critical CMS incentives while the challenges of interoperability are resolved.”
For more information about the eConsult CCD workaround in LA County, visit the project overview in the Interoperability Proving Ground of www.HealthIT.gov.
About Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County
The Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC) is the largest regional association of nonprofit community and free clinics in California. Founded in 1994, CCALAC has 58 members that operate nearly 300 clinic sites throughout the County. These clinics serve nearly 1.4 million patients per year, the majority of whom are uninsured or underinsured. CCALAC is dedicated to serving and representing the interests of its member clinics as providers of quality health care, including medical, dental and pharmacy services. For more information about CCALAC, visit www.ccalac.org.
About Safety Net Connect
Since 2009, Safety Net Connect (SNC) has been a leading creator of healthcare technology that makes it easier for providers and institutions to increase access to care, streamline care coordination, promote evidence-based practices and improve quality. With a mission to improve health equity, SNC has helped public and private healthcare organizations across the nation successfully reach over 5 million low-income, underserved individuals with affordable, effective patient-centered care. For more information, please visit www.safetynetconnect.com.
