A Different Way of Thinking About Health InformationAlliance for Health Reform BriefingAugust 13, 2012Janet MarchibrodaChair, Health Information Technology InitiativeBipartisan Policy Center

ABOUT THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER AND ITS WORK IN HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

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Established in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell

Works to address the key challenges facing the nation, including those related to democracy, economic policy, energy, housing, national security, and health care. 

Bipartisan Policy Center Health IT Initiative: Task Force on Delivery System Reform and Health IT– Recently released report

Transforming Health Care: The Role of Health IT– Grounded in interviews with 40 high-performing organizations– Developed under the guidance of BPC’s Task Force on Delivery

System Reform and Health IT, led by former Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Bill Frist (R-TN)

BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER TASK FORCE KEY FINDINGS ON CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT

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We are at a critical point in time in health care Spurred by increasing pressures to improve the quality

and cost-effectiveness of health care, new delivery system and payment reforms are now rapidly emerging, sponsored by the federal government, states and private sector providers and health plans

An engaged, activated patient is critical to the success of these efforts

Use of online, electronic, and mobile health care tools can help our nation’s clinicians, hospitals and other providers more effectively engage with patients, and improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of care

CONSUMERS WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR CLINICIANS USING ELECTRONIC TOOLS

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52% of consumers say they would use a smart phone or PDA to monitor their health if they were able to access their medical records and download information about their medical condition and treatments (19% would be very likely, and 33% would be somewhat likely.

61% express interest in using a medical device that would enable them to check their condition and send information to their doctor electronically through a computer or a cell phone via the Internet

Source: Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. (2011). 2011 survey of health care consumers in the United States: key findings, strategic implications.

PHYSICIANS ARE ALSO SHOWING POSITIVE INTEREST

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While 64% of physicians have never used a patient’s electronic health record, 42% are willing to try

Source: Wynia, M.K., Torres, G.W., and Lemieux, J. (2011). Many physicians are willing to use patients’ electronic personal health records, but doctors differ by location, gender and practice. Health Affairs, 30, no.2, 266-273.

PROPOSED RULES FOR STAGE 2 OF MEANINGFUL USE

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Provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information, enable view, download or transmission

Provide patients with an electronic copy of their discharge instructions at time of request (hospitals)

Provide clinical summaries for patients at each office visit (eligible professionals)

Use secure messaging (eligible professionals)

KEY AREAS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED7

Supporting clinicians as they make the transition to using these tools, through education, training

Clarifying and addressing any policy issues Supporting best practices around security Aligning incentives and payment to support and

reward these new ways of clinician-patient interaction

Continuing to build awareness among consumers and assuring that no one is left behind

Thank You!

Janet Marchibroda Bipartisan Policy Center

1225 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 1000Washington, D.C. 20005

jmarchibroda@bipartisanpolicy.org

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