The West Virginia Regional HIT Extension Center is a statewide resource that provides education, training and support services to aid the state’s primary care provider community in implementing and using certified health information technology and achieving health improvement outcomes through “meaningful use.”
The program also works to prepare providers to receive federal Medicare/Medicaid incentive payments, which are being provided for the next several years.
The WVRHITEC provides each member with an on-site assessment and develops a list of recommended services*.
* - Services are offered at a special membership rate.
HIT INFRASTRUCTURE ANALYSIS/DEVELOPMENT PLAN:
The WVRHITEC can help a practice or clinic define and determine its HIT needs by completing a comprehensive HIT infrastructure analysis and strategic plan. This plan identifies deficiencies, gaps and vulnerabilities and provides a recommended plan of action that is customized the practice’s technology infrastructure goals, objectives and budget.
EHR READINESS ASSESSMENT/PROJECT PLANNING:
the WVRHITEC also can assess the current state of resources within a health practice to support electronic health record (EHR) implementation (or conversion) and provide the practice with a high-level assessment report of technical, workforce, and facility readiness to prepare the practice for key steps in the implementation of EHRs.
EHR VENDOR SELECTION:
The WVRHITEC is experienced in working with providers in the selection an EHR vendor (hosted service or in-house application) by documenting practice requirements for product evaluation and matching a provider’s needs to a certified EHR software and integrated practice management system (if needed). The WVRHITEC team also can coordinate product demos, provide general support and guidelines to the practice, assist with contract review and advise on negotiations.
EHR VENDOR IMPLEMENTATION:
Following the selection of an EHR vendor, the WVRHITEC can provide the full-range of necessary services to ensure a successful implementation:
• Project management planning and support
• Consulting on hardware, software, wiring/wireless and other equipment needs
• Consultation regarding data conversation and interface issues
• Guidance on data extraction, report generation and MU reporting
• Development of a common dashboard
• Customized templates or reports -- if the practice decides to develop additional customized templates or reports for its EHR, the WVRHITEC can provide consultative input, configuration, and customization according to specifications
• Assist with ad hoc reporting
• Develop additional interfaces to connect to labs, hospitals.
In addition, the WVRHITEC can aid a practice in needs related to EHR data conversion projects. If a practice decides to convert data from one EHR system to another, then our team can provide high level guidelines and act as an intermediary between the EHR vendors (or other entities) to capture and migrate health data.
WORKFLOW REDESIGN:
Having worked on a wide range of successful EHR implementations, the WVRHITEC is well prepared to assist providers and organizations in analyzing pre‐ and post‐EHR workflow redesign, which is critical to ensure in identifying and transitioning paper‐based processes to technology‐enabled processes. Our team also provides training and guidance on internal communication and coordination issues and uses rapid cycle feedback to design continuous quality improvement activities.
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE TECHNICAL SERVICES:
Among the hardware/software technical services that the WVRHITEC’s team can provide are:
• Software selection, training and support
• Hardware services (selection, lease, purchase, support, etc.)
- Cabling, wiring
- Networking configuration and support
- Network security services, penetration/security testing
- Wireless devices and infrastructure
- Digital document solutions (scanning and archiving of paper records)
PRIVACY & SECURITY:
Another critical area where the WVRHITEC has extensive experience is in the area of privacy and security of digital data. Our team can provide information and guidance in understanding and adhering to guidelines and laws (federal, state) pertaining to privacy and security of electronic health records and data. The WVRHITEC also can provide consultation on requirements and expectations pertaining to protected health information under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and related regulations.
Other privacy & security services that can be provided are:
• P&S system evaluation, assessment and review.
• Technical assistance regarding the implementation and maintenance of physical and network security
• Designing user-based access controls
• Planning for disaster recovery
• Developing encryption and backup media storage procedures
• Network security assessments
• Consulting on human resources training and policies
HEALTH INFO EXCHANGE/INTERFACE PLANNING:
The WVRHITEC’s team has first-hand working experience and an intimate knowledge in connecting to the W.Va. health information exchange (HIE) and its necessary interfaces. This is a key component for practices that want to meet meaningful use Stage 1 and 2 criteria. The WVRHITEC can consult and advise the practice to support the necessary interfaces between EHR vendor, lab, pharmacies, hospitals, and other data exchange partners to ensure achievement of meaningful use Stage 1 and 2 requirements. The center also can offer consultation on the development of internal policies & procedures around HIE connectivity.
OTHER SERVICES -- MEANINGFUL USE, PCMH:
As a subsidiary entity of the W.Va. Health Improvement Institute, the WVRHITEC has a direct connection and close working relationship with HIT clinical and meaningful use specialists who can provide added solutions in the areas of achieving meaning use and obtaining patient-centered medical home certification.
MEANINGFUL USE ANALYSIS:
Conduct an analysis of the practices’ ability to achieve meaningful use criteria, consult and document elective measures and/or exclusions for each provider, and develop plan to address any deficiencies noted; provide written report of actionable items to practice to achieve successful attestation reporting.
MEANINGFUL USE ATTESTATION REPORTING:
Assist practices in collecting data appropriately so that meaningful use measures are accurate and reportable for the practice; coordinate with the practice to produce the required evidence and attestations to CMS demonstrating meaningful use.
PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOME:
Assist practices to generate an adoption plan specific to the practice’s needs and highlights key transformation areas to obtain NCQA PCMH recognition; Consult and map the NCQA’s Patient-Centered Medical Home elements allowing the practice to identify and mitigate outstanding elements, assisting practices to move through the process of PCMH transformation in a standardized and consistent manner, assessment to engage practices and initiate the transformation process within the practice to shape the pathway to recognition and transformation, reduce confusion, and prioritize areas of improvement.
SPECIALIZED HIT SERVICES:**
The WVRHITEC also is available to provide consultation and services related to emerging HIT matters such as ICD-10, 5010, etc.
** - Service rates will be determined based on project needs, parameters.