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June 11, 2008

Lakin Hospital, operated by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has chosen an open source electronic health record system for its needs. Lakin's implementation is part of an ongoing project that will merge all of West Virginia's state-run healthcare facilities through a contiguous electronic repository of patient's personal information as well as their complete medical file.

As part of the rollout, Medsphere is coordinating the integration of OpenVista with Keane's Patcom revenue cycle management system and Vista KEANE Resident Account Management software. Medsphere is the primary contractor in the implementation, and Linux was chosen as the operating system.

The 114-bed medical facility is one of seven West Virginia DHHR-operated healthcare properties to be connected via the OpenVista platform.

Based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., Medsphere Systems Inc. has won a contract to install its OpenVista EHR at the hospital. Located in the northwest part of the state, the facility provides geriatric care to West Virginia residents with long-term behavioral or developmental needs.

In all, 4 of the facilities (Welch Community Hospital, William Sharpe Hospital, Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital and Hopemont Hospital) are already implemented and communicating together. Pinecrest Hospital and the John Manchin Healthcare Center, the two remaining facilities in the program, were connected just two weeks ago.

Overall, OpenVista is a commercialized version of the Vista EHR system created by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Configured to meet the needs of non-VA institutions, OpenVista is offered through a subscription-based pricing model that company representatives say eliminates prohibitive up-front costs for hospitals.

Melissa Wamsley, CEO of Lakin Hospital says "converting from a paper-based records system to its electronic equivalent is a significant step for us. Medsphere has worked closely with our people, from the early design and development process through the training phase and implementation. The end result is a system that is being accepted by our staff with minimal concerns whatsoever."

"The DHHR electronic health records initiative includes both a clinical package for patient care and an operations component," said Jerry Luck, project manager for West Virginia DHHR. "Without OpenVista, our developers would have had to build an integrated solution incorporating billing, administrative and revenue management."

"Medsphere's project with the state of West Virginia is serving as a blueprint not only for our company, but also for integrated and multi-site health information technology initiatives across the country," said Medsphere CEO Michael Doyle. "With the drive for electronic medical records gaining steam at both the federal and state level, West Virginia's program helps pave the way for vastly improved health records management."

Once the installation is complete at its seven acute, psychiatric and long-term care facilities, West Virginia DHHR will evaluate integrating its EHR system with various community health centers and clinics.

Source: Information Age.

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