Jul 18, 2011
ASCO’s primary goals in health informationtechnology are to acceleratethe transfer of new knowledge intoclinical practice; continue improvingthe quality of cancer care, which inturn leads to improved health and economicoutcomes; and help communityand academic practices transition tohealth care delivery in a digital age.Accordingly, this month’s Journal ofOncology Practice (JOP) is a thematicissue intended to provide readers witha better understanding of the effect ofelectronic health records (EHRs) on theculture of practice.
Topics addressed in this thematic issueinclude positive and negative effects ofEHRs on oncology practice; the “meaningfuluse” EHR Incentive Program asdefined by the Center for Medicareand Medicaid Services (CMS); decisionsupport in EHRs, as well as leveragingthe ability of EHRs to collect andorganize data; administrative burdensof implementing EHRs; and financialimplications and comparative costs.
"Oncology has long been viewed asa specialty where health informationtechnology (HIT) and EHRs have greatpotential to improve quality and patientsafety, given the data-intensive natureof the specialty and the toxicity associatedwith many of our treatments,"said Robert S. Miller, MD, of SidneyKimmel Comprehensive Cancer Centerat Johns Hopkins. Dr. Miller, along withPeter P. Yu, MD, of Palo Alto MedicalFoundation, served as JOP guest editorsfor this thematic issue. They arealso members of the ASCO HealthInformation Technology Work Group.
JOP decided to devote an entire issueto EHRs because "the interest in EHRsis at an unprecedented high due tofederal ‘meaningful use’ incentives andits tight timelines," said Dr. Miller. "Wehope readers get some practical adviceabout others’ experience and guidanceas they go about purchasing and implementingan EHR system."
ASCO’s Board of Directors determinedthat the Society’s Quality OncologyPractice Initiative (QOPI®) programand the process of developing clinicalpractice guidelines should be linkedthrough HIT, explained Dr. Yu. Accordingly, "QOPI—if developed as a realtimeelectronic reporting mechanism—could provide the practice feedback forguideline development. Taken together,[EHRs and QOPI] would create a virtuouscycle, an example of a rapid learninghealth care system," he said.
To access JOP’s full EHR thematicissue, please visit jop.ascopubs.org.
Topics addressed in this thematic issueinclude positive and negative effects ofEHRs on oncology practice; the “meaningfuluse” EHR Incentive Program asdefined by the Center for Medicareand Medicaid Services (CMS); decisionsupport in EHRs, as well as leveragingthe ability of EHRs to collect andorganize data; administrative burdensof implementing EHRs; and financialimplications and comparative costs.
"Oncology has long been viewed asa specialty where health informationtechnology (HIT) and EHRs have greatpotential to improve quality and patientsafety, given the data-intensive natureof the specialty and the toxicity associatedwith many of our treatments,"said Robert S. Miller, MD, of SidneyKimmel Comprehensive Cancer Centerat Johns Hopkins. Dr. Miller, along withPeter P. Yu, MD, of Palo Alto MedicalFoundation, served as JOP guest editorsfor this thematic issue. They arealso members of the ASCO HealthInformation Technology Work Group.
JOP decided to devote an entire issueto EHRs because "the interest in EHRsis at an unprecedented high due tofederal ‘meaningful use’ incentives andits tight timelines," said Dr. Miller. "Wehope readers get some practical adviceabout others’ experience and guidanceas they go about purchasing and implementingan EHR system."
ASCO’s Board of Directors determinedthat the Society’s Quality OncologyPractice Initiative (QOPI®) programand the process of developing clinicalpractice guidelines should be linkedthrough HIT, explained Dr. Yu. Accordingly, "QOPI—if developed as a realtimeelectronic reporting mechanism—could provide the practice feedback forguideline development. Taken together,[EHRs and QOPI] would create a virtuouscycle, an example of a rapid learninghealth care system," he said.
To access JOP’s full EHR thematicissue, please visit jop.ascopubs.org.