Recently Dr. David Blumenthal (National Coordinator for Health Information Technology) wrote a blog titled “CLIA Permits Electronic Exchange of Lab Data”. In his blog Dr. Blumenthal talks about the need for clear recognition of patient privacy and security in transferring and sharing laboratory test results.

In the last year, there has been no clear statement from Dr. Blumenthal regarding one standard or one governing body that assures these standards will be met. As a laboratory software maker, I see that many physicians have EMRs, but still do not have all their laboratory results electronically transferred into their EMR. The reason for not authorizing all EMR users to have a direct interface with their laboratory is economics. Most laboratories get charged by the EMR company to create an HL-7 interface with the EMR. Some of those interfaces can range from free to all the way up to $25,000 per interface, which is the case for Misys Tiger EMR now known as Allscripts.

The issue of interface cost needs to be resolved in order to have an abundant adoption of EMRs with laboratory interfaces. The current standards for laboratory interfaces are HL7. I believe that this format will continue as Dr. Blumenthal addressed in his blog. However, connectivity solutions like CONNECT Open Source could possibly be the means for health information exchange, both locally and at the national level. Two of Azalea Health Innovations’ programmers are participating this month in the first Code-A-Thon of 2010. I believe the CONNECT project is going to gain momentum and eventually be the method for connecting a regional network of health information exchanges to the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN).

As a member of the the Lowndes County-Valdosta Chamber’s Federal Legislative Committee, championing the Electronic Health Records initiative, I met with Congressman Jack Kingston at Smith Northview Hospital Monday February 8, 2008. Smith Northview Hospital had a grand opening for their new Telemedicine initiative. I had the honor of meeting with Congressman Kingston for 30 minutes before the ribbon cutting for new Smith Northview Telemedicine department.

I spoke to Congressman Kingston about the need for federal funding for the implementation of Health Information Technology, specifically electronic medical records, which will lower healthcare costs while creating new jobs in the Healthcare Technology field in Valdosta-Lowndes County

During the discussion with Congressman Kingston, I explained Azalea Health Innovations’ position on this issue. The federal government need to provide funding to help physicians purchase electronic health records and incentives designed to get physicians to use the technology. I also explained to the congressman that Azalea Health Innovations have developed a web-based system (LabHub) that provides laboratory test results to physicians securely over the web in real time. LabHub is currently in the implementation phase for Smith Northview Hospital.

Congressman Kingston was very interested to hear about our company and the products and services that we provide. He also saw the value of LabHub as laboratory test results count for 70% of the clinical diagnoses decisions. The Congressman promised to do his best to support and promote innovative solutions like our own.

Baha Zeidan, CEO
Azalea Health Innovation, Inc.
bzeidan@azaleahealth.com
229-444-6169