Project Info
Digital Technology in Healthcare (SmartEMR)
Our world is continuously changing. Though, with the improvement of healthcare and its relative IT and Mechatronics solutions, there is no need to fear.
Computers and Mobile Devices, have reformed forever, every aspect of our lives; Actually, all is getting increasingly dynamic and fast. Such lifestyle requires timely and revolutionary solutions to cope with the challenges of tomorrow especially in the health care field.
Many health information system Solutions took place, but they significantly changed the collection and processing of the patients’ medical records. Today it is extremely important for medical staff to collect patients’ information, to process them in readable format, and to have them retrievable on different devices. This ensures more efficient and accurate care. However, these solutions put the healthcare data security on risk, because someone’s medical records could be easily accessed and used for any purpose. If patients feel unconfident to share their private information with doctors as there are no assurances that it will stay private, this might cause ineffective treatment.
For the aim, to protect patients, their medical records and other sensitive information that is used in the care plans by doctors, hospitals and other healthcare entities, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) designed HIPAA. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is the official international standard, every health information system must be designed accordingly, in order to ensure the proper level of data protection.
Fortunately, protecting the patients’ data was and keeps to be our top priority, and giving high attention to meet international standards is what differentiates us from others, especially in the Middle East. Nowadays, while breaches are on the rise, we standup against these threats to provide you with SmartEMR, the best innovative and secure healthcare data software that is HIPAA compliant.
SmartEMR is developed under Policies & Procedures that allow its users to store/transmit patient data while being safeguarded.
It has control and security over the Largest Factors Exposed to Attacks:
- Access (Privacy).
- Audit (Security).
- Integrity (Enforcement).
- Transmission (Breach Notification).
The data that is used through SmartEMR is encrypted and it includes setting up a unique user identification.
SmartEMR is the most innovative solution in the Middle East, as further to including secure messaging solutions, secure hosting services, and secure cloud storage services, it consists of international coding of Drugs and Procedures, and it does not only ensure drug to drug interaction but also drug to medical interaction which means that it provides medical decision.
SmartEMR incorporates the healthcare, the information technology and the business. It
- improves the management of health information
- refines medical care
- lowers costs
- increases efficiency
- reduces mistakes
- increases security in the process of health information exchange between consumers, payers, providers, doctors, & patients.
All these aspects together significantly improve patient’s treatment, while optimizing reimbursement for healthcare organizations.
What we do, in Short, to ensure HIPAA Compliance
- We deal with PHI Responsibility Persons who fall into three main categories – “Covered Entities”, “Business Associates” and “Subcontractors”, so that all PHI mentioned should be encrypted.
- Technical Protections:
- Encrypt PHI (Protected Health Information)
- Log access and changes to PHI (at least the past 6 years)
- Auto logoff: if user closed window or inactive for 10 minutes, he should be logged out
- Physical Protections:
- Monitor physical access: and log server activities (at least the past 6 years)
- Manage workstations: on-premises or own hosting can help
- Protect and track PHI devices: install antivirus
- Administration Protections:
- Assess and manage risk: backup and restore plan
- Block unauthorized access
- Train staff
- Sign BAA: business associate agreement, which is a legal document between a healthcare provider and a contractor or other vendor when that vendor might receive access to PHI
- Test contingencies and document security incidences
- HIPAA Privacy Rule:
- Respond to patient access requests
- Maintain PHI Integrity
- Inform patient with NPPS: Notice of Privacy Practices provides a clear, user-friendly explanation of individuals’ rights with respect to their PHI and the privacy practices of health plans and care providers.
- Get permission to use PHI
- Update forms and published terms
- HIPAA Breach Notification Rule:
- Promptly notify patients
- Notify the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and potentially the media (as per HIPAA Enforcement Rule Violation Levels a fine per incident may apply)
- provide (1) Description of the PHI and personal identifiers involved; (2) what unauthorized party accessed; (3) whether details were simply seen or taken; and, (4) the degree to which risk mitigation has succeeded
- HIPAA Omnibus Rule:
- Refresh BAA (Business Associate Agreement)
- Modernize NPPS (the Notice of Privacy Practices) and update privacy policies
Other activities that take place during the development of any platform:
- SSL implementation
- Users security management to control the data access properly
- File upload vulnerabilities and file inclusion and disclosure
- Trusted input validations
- Protected SQL injection and truncation attacks
- Prohibited direct access on data and files without credentials
- The developers are well trained regarding the privacy conditions and HIPAA policies and they are using a secured workstation
Still, what somehow holds back HIPAA implementation in the Middle East, is that many of the developers have read the HIPAA Security Rule Standards and Implementation Specifications yet they don’t fully understand how to execute the technical implementation of it. Despite this fact, Ai4Health, is made up of medical certified professionals who are knowledgeable in IT, which makes it “a Breakthrough” among other healthcare software solutions.
We understand the basic features of each healthcare organization’s IT assets and medical devices, and what security mechanisms are in place, and how to use them, in order to make sure that their Data are secure when we integrate SmartEMR.
In conclusion, what is better than a Healthcare Software, that is developed by Healthcare Specialists? When we say developed by them, we mean that they are knowledgeable in IT and that they personally supervise and monitor the development of:
- the software,
- what is really necessary for the physicians in term of features outcome,
- and what is really appropriate in term of security of health information,
in order to give the best outcome ever.
If you are ready to start this way without headaches, feel free to call Ai4Health team and get your Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system SmartEMR that is already set for integration and that is HIPAA compliant.
What is SmartEMR?
Smart EMR is a web-based solution, making it possible for multiple users to access patient’s records from any location using a tablet during a bedside encounter, personal laptop / desktop or smart phone. The EMR data is recorded using few clicks and encoded using international standards including ICD-10 and CPT codifications, making it ideal for data mining and research.
The EMR is able to assist the user by providing certain highlights thus avoiding multiple medical errors and improving clinical practice. The software is smart enough to solve fully programmed medical cases (Extra Features) to the extent of providing assessments and management plans based on international guidelines.
Generation of electronic prescriptions is possible thus significantly decreasing paper work and consultation times.
Additional Features
The software can also trigger contraindications when medical suggestions are given. It is also possible to print and edit any medical summary or prescription or even recommended tests for the patient using the E-print option in this software.
Basic Modules
The Smart EMR is composed of the Basic Module that holds the following features
Data Mining
SmartEMR is equipped with a data mining module that allows the inspection of large pre-existing databases in order to create new information, this will allow the easy access and extraction of stored data in a structured manner thus permitting the possibility of statistical analysis and clarified research.
Smart Filters
- Sex filter, which filters/hides data relevant to a specific sex from display in the opposite sex. Ex: male genital organs, female genital organs.
- Age filter, some data only pertinent to a specific age group will refrain from displaying in other age groups. Ex: pediatric physical exam, neonatal scoring systems.
Drug Database
It enables the software to register drugs and detect any duplications, allergies, indications, and side effects. It can also provide medical conditions in the form of a list.
Laboratory Database
Integrated into the EMR, laboratory values’ progression can be monitored using a comparative table or graphics. The data shown is fully encoded making it available for statistical analysis or interpretation by the EMR or medical cases.
Advanced Interpretations
This software has special abilities to access and interpret data available from previous entries and formulate precautions and highlights whenever applicable, thus helping the user to avoid some medical errors and dramatically improves the way of practice.
NB: even if the user is unaware of the nature of a new drug being taken by the patient, the software has the ability to recognize the drug’s property and provide highlights whenever necessary.
Printing Features
It enables the user to print documents or any medical record, prescription or even laboratory prescriptions anywhere using the E-print or cloud option. In addition to editing any printing summary before the action.
Chief Complaints
SmartEMR has a unique ability to access, analyze and interpret the data present in history of present illness; thus highlighting to the user if any of the active drugs being taken by the patient may aggravate the current condition or complaint of the patient. A highlight will be provided automatically labeling the specific drug and the symptoms that may be affected. This is possible by adding to the EMR a comprehensive database of coded chief complaints.
History of Present Illness
can be written using free text typing or loading a previously saved text template that can be modified at will. There are 25 preset templates created based on North American Standards where the software provides by itself a list of radio buttons and checkboxes relevant to a certain chief complaint to be filled by the user.
Past Medical History
Past Medical History is stockpiled using ICD-10 codifications if the patient has a substantial past medical history, the user will be able to fill the data adequately after a certain significant time and acquaintance with the ICD-10. In order to solve this issue, a unique feature is created where the user can click preset checkboxes and the software will fabricate the corresponding codes in a small period of time.
Past Surgical History
Past Surgical History will be set using CPT (current procedural terminology) CPT codes.
Social History
Social History will be furnished including marital status, children, occupation, tobacco intake, alcohol intake, caffeine intake, physical activity, and use of illicit drugs.
Review of Systems
A full review of systems is built on North American Standards
Sexual History
It is provided including the sexual orientation, sexual activity (frequency, number of partners, use of protection or contraceptives etc…) and a complete history of previous sexually transmitted diseases.
Family History
Family History is encoded according to the ICD-10 database. This makes it possible for the software to interpret the data present into the family history making it useful for risk assessments and in medical cases.
OBGYN History
A comprehensive history is available including the age of menarche, pregnancy status, previous pregnancies (including any abortions, complications, mode of delivery, etc.) and detailed menstrual period history.
Past Psychiatric History
Past Psychiatric History is encoded according to ICD-10 database and can be displayed by free text typing and template loading.
Allergies
A comprehensive list is available in an encoded format making it possible for the software to provide highlights and warnings. Allergies are classified according to drug, substance, food, pollen, dust, animal, contact, insect, etc. in case of drug allergy, the user can either provide the trade name, generic name or drug type and the software will be able to provide a highlight in case of a user accidentally prescribes a similar drug or even another drug-related to the same family of the allergy-causing drug.
Physical Examination
A full standardized category subdivided into medical systems allowing the user to set positive and negative findings by clicking a series of radio buttons and checkboxes. It is also possible for the software to interpret the positive findings thus guiding the user in his diagnosis, assessment, and planning. A physical examination can be displayed by free texting, importing templates, and attaching files or pictures.
Text Reports
Reports are available for history taking, physical examination, assessment and plans management, operative reports, pathology reports or any other investigational test. They can be displayed typed as free texts or editable text templates.
Scanned Reports
Scanned Reports are available in all categories of the EMR where the user is able to attach and save any relevant documents done as outpatient or available in hard copy. The basic EMR has the possibility to include all hard copy contents present in text format of the currently present medical records.
In conclusion, what is better than a Healthcare Software, that is developed by Healthcare Specialists? When we say developed by them, we mean that they are knowledgeable in IT and that they personally supervise and monitor the development of:
- the software,
- what is really necessary for the physicians in term of features outcome,
- and what is really appropriate in term of security of health information,
IN ORDER TO GIVE THE BEST OUTCOME EVER
If you are ready to start this way without headaches, feel free to call Ai4Health team and get your Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system SmartEMR that is already set for integration and that is HIPAA compliant.