HealthPort, announced that Mississippi’s HealthSafeNet Impact EHR Project will expand its current use of HealthPort ’s electronic medical record ( EMR ) solution, HealthPort EMR by implementing the system at an additional four health centers across the state.

Already installed in seven locations, the four centers will go live with HealthPort EMR by August 2010. Expansion has been funded through a combination of grants and the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus package. Currently HealthSafeNet serves 35,000 distinct users.

By utilizing the same EMR system, HealthSafeNet members gain a significant advantage in ease of implementation and technical standardization. “While specific items like drug lists must be fine-tuned for each location, working with HealthPort across the board has enabled us to develop a best practice implementation methodology which expedites deployment and system adoption,” mentions Chuck Clark, CIO of Coastal Family Health, Biloxi, Mississippi. Clark provides oversight and overall project management for the state-wide initiative.

For Coastal Family Health, another benefit of implementing HealthPort EMR is the ability to share electronic patient records across locations. “Existing patients can visit any of the Coastal clinics and his or her electronic medical record is available, online, for the clinician - versus waiting for the paper chart,” mentions Clark. Finally, as part of their federal funding, CHCs are required to work with physicians and develop standardized care plans for six chronic conditions. “HealthPort is working with us to set up discrete data fields within documentation templates that everyone will use to document care against the standardized plans for each visit, three month, six month, nine month etc.,” comments Clark, “with the long term goal to foster better documentation and federal reporting.”

Clark reports that HealthPort’s customer support has been extremely responsive throughout the project and issues have been resolved quickly. Also included in the 11 HealthSafeNet locations are seven centers that use HealthPort’s practice management system, HealthPort PM.

“In the near future, HealthSafeNet will be sharing not only electronic records but also data across their statewide network to dramatically improve the quality of care provided to the underinsured and underserved in Mississippi,” mentions Steve Emery, Director of Product Management, HealthPort. “We are honored to have been chosen by HealthSafeNet and look forward to helping them achieve these goals as they continue to grow,” he concludes.

Source: HealthPort